Ebonyi hit by water shortage as sachet dealers pull out over tax dispute

By Amarachi Ehia 

Residents of Ebonyi State are battling a worsening water shortage following the withdrawal of sachet water distributors who accuse revenue agents of excessive taxation and harassment.

The disruption has triggered a sharp spike in the cost of sachet water, now selling between ₦550 and ₦700 per bag, depending on the brand, compounding the economic strain on households across the state.

The crisis has been intensified by the scarcity of Aqua Rapha, a dominant supplier in the state, leaving consumers with limited options and forcing reliance on supplies transported from Afikpo and other neighbouring areas.

A union official, Emeka, said the decision to suspend operations was driven by persistent intimidation from revenue collectors, who he alleged subject distributors to arbitrary levies and physical assault.

He lamented that despite multiple petitions to relevant authorities, including the state’s revenue board and supervising ministries, no decisive action has been taken. According to him, the union had formally engaged the government since last year without meaningful response.

Emeka stressed that the action is not a strike but a withdrawal for safety reasons, noting that drivers supplying water into the state can no longer operate under what he described as a chaotic and unpredictable tax system.

He further alleged that tax agents operate without adherence to official rates, often intercepting vehicles on the road to demand payments using unofficial receipts.

The union has appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to urgently intervene and create a regulated framework that will allow distributors to resume services.

In Abakaliki, the impact is already severe, with residents and public institutions struggling to access clean water. The Abakaliki Correctional Centre has reportedly been without public water supply for four days, heightening health and sanitation concerns.

Reacting, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Chinedu Nkah, said the government is working to resolve the challenge and assured that improvements would soon be evident.

Efforts to obtain comments from officials of the State Internal Revenue Service were unsuccessful, as calls to key officers went unanswered.