After over 200 years of grappling with a severe shortage of potable water, residents of Alabata Community in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, celebrated a major breakthrough as Fairaction International, a non-governmental organization, donated a multi-million naira solar-powered water station.
The initiative, aimed at reducing waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid that claim approximately 95,000 and 117,000 lives annually, brings much-needed relief to the water-deprived community.
At the project’s commissioning, Mr. Oluwasola Adeoti, speaking on behalf of the project’s sponsor, Samuel Adeoti, based in Australia, explained that Samuel’s personal experience with water scarcity in his youth motivated him to take action. “His struggles with water access growing up in Nigeria fueled his desire to ensure others don’t go through the same hardship,” Oluwasola shared.
Supported by team members Sunday Afolabi, Sunday Durojaye, Olayinka, Adekola Olaoniyonu, and Tosin Kayode, the team leader, Adeoti, emphasized Fairaction International’s commitment to addressing water poverty across Nigeria, aligning with the United Nations’ Mission 2030. “We’re piloting this project in Ibadan, but the goal is to expand it nationwide. The facility includes solar panels, batteries, a hybrid inverter, and a water treatment plant to ensure sustainable water access,” Adeoti explained.
Having completed similar projects in Abeku, Isale Oja, and Ijaye, the NGO’s members, including Olaoniyonu and Afolabi, described their thorough approach, from surveying the community’s needs to laboratory testing of the water quality. Afolabi reflected on the past when villagers had to drink from polluted streams, often consuming tadpoles, leading to health issues. “This water is far safer and cleaner than what we grew up with,” he remarked.
Initially, water from the station will be provided free for a month, after which a modest charge of N100 per 50kg litre will be applied to help maintain the facility. Adeoti stressed the importance of sustainability, noting that funds raised from the project will go toward ongoing maintenance. “We don’t just initiate projects and walk away. We ensure their sustainability by regular monitoring and maintenance,” he said.
The water station is just the beginning for Fairaction International, which plans to continue its work in other water-poor communities. However, Adeoti revealed that future projects, like the one scheduled for Aponmode, are being temporarily paused to reassess the organization’s mapping system to ensure they address the most severe water needs.
Alabata community leaders, represented by Alhaji Rasak Oloyede Balogun, expressed profound gratitude, describing the project as the first of its kind in the village’s 100-year history. Residents previously relied on contaminated well water, and the affordable rate of N50 per supply surprised many. “They reassured us that it’s not about profit but the well-being of Alabata residents,” said Balogun.
Salaudeen Abdulgafar, a resident for seven years, acknowledged the high cost of sinking a borehole and pledged that the community would manage the project responsibly to ensure its longevity.
This groundbreaking initiative is seen as a beacon of hope for the future of water security in Alabata and other underserved communities across the country.
