By Jako Keke,(Jalingo Times) September 8, 2026.
The 2027 House of Representatives hopeful for Wukari/Ibi Federal Constituency, Engr. Mathias Luka Agbu, has called for a sustainable approach to addressing the persistent water challenge confronting communities in Wukari and Ibi Local Government Areas of Taraba State.
Agbu, in a statement issued recently, said the water crisis in the constituency could not be resolved merely by drilling additional boreholes, stressing the need for proper planning, maintenance and accountability to ensure that existing water infrastructure remains functional.
He said several communities had contacted him for assistance in repairing damaged boreholes, adding that while he was pleased to intervene and restore water supply, the recurring nature of such requests had compelled him to examine the broader challenges surrounding water infrastructure in the area.
According to him, many boreholes serve communities for a period before developing faults, after which some are repaired while others are abandoned due to the absence of effective maintenance structures and clearly defined responsibilities. He expressed concern that such a situation leaves communities dependent on periodic interventions by politicians rather than a reliable system for maintaining public infrastructure.
“We fix the borehole, but have we solved the problem?” Agbu asked, explaining that, as an engineer, he believes the focus should extend beyond repairing failed facilities to identifying the causes of failure and developing systems capable of delivering lasting solutions.
He said his immediate vision includes conducting a comprehensive assessment of community water facilities across Wukari/Ibi to establish the number of existing facilities, their operational status, causes of recurring failures and the interventions required. He proposed a structured maintenance system involving trained technicians assigned to specific areas, a functional fault-reporting mechanism and greater community ownership of water infrastructure.
“My goal is simple: our community boreholes should remain functional all year round, not only when someone comes to repair them,” he said.
Beyond boreholes, Agbu called for renewed attention to the existing Ibi-Wukari water system, including the treatment facility in Ibi and pipeline infrastructure extending towards Wukari. He said the system should undergo a comprehensive technical assessment to determine its present condition, the components that remain viable and the investment required to restore it as a sustainable source of potable water for the people.
The federal lawmaker hopeful, however, clarified that providing and managing water infrastructure is not the primary responsibility of a member of the House of Representatives. He said effective legislative representation could nevertheless play a critical role through advocacy, pursuit of federal interventions and appropriations, engagement with relevant agencies, partnership-building and sustained follow-up on issues affecting constituents.
“That is the kind of representative I want to be,” Agbu said, emphasising that his approach would focus on addressing the root causes of challenges rather than merely providing temporary interventions.
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