Nigeria's northwestern regional capital Gusau is currently witnessing an influx of water vendors, mostly from Niger, due to an acute water shortage caused by the collapse of a dam that supplied the liquid to the city, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said Monday. The water vendors from Niger constitute between 60 and 70 per cent of the total figure of those vending water in Zamfara State, whose capital is Gusau, NAN said.
The dam collapsed about a month ago following a heavy downpour in Gusau.
The water vendors from Niger, locally known as "yan garuwa", have already taken over the business from Nigerians because of the former's willingness to sell at lower prices.
One of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NAN: "most of us are from Niger and some are operating in (nearby) Sokoto, Katsina and some neighbouring states."
According to him, he makes between 3,000 naira (23 dollars/ 18 euros) and 4,000 naira (30.7 dollars/ 24.5 euros) daily from water sale.
A 25-litre jerrycan of water which cost five naira before the collapse of the dam now sells for between 35 and 40 naira.
Source: Agence France-Presse
