For over five decades, the residents of Dokuma, a remote community in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have lived in severe deprivation, cut off from essential government services. Denied access to basic amenities, the community survives solely on a contaminated stream shared with animals, the only water source available.
A recent report of the area revealed the harsh reality: despite its visibly polluted state, the stream remains the lifeline for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. The consequences have been dire, with frequent outbreaks of typhoid, cholera, and diarrhoea plaguing the population.
“This is the only water we’ve ever had since I got married 15 years ago,” lamented a local woman. “We know it’s making us sick. It spoils our clothes, but we have no choice.”
Despite multiple visits from politicians over the years and countless promises of a borehole, the situation remains unchanged. Community members report that these promises are only revived during election seasons, only to be forgotten afterward.
MonITNG, a civic technology platform, visited the community and decried the longstanding neglect. The organization emphasized that a single borehole could drastically transform life in Dokuma.
“The people are not asking for luxuries. They are asking for clean water, for their children to grow without fear of waterborne diseases, and for a basic level of dignity,” MonITNG stated.
The neglect extends beyond water to education. At LEA Primary School in Dokuma, over a hundred pupils endure appalling conditions. The school building is in ruins — with leaking roofs, no ceilings, broken doors and windows, and no desks or chairs.
Children, some as young as five, carry furniture from home each day to have a place to sit, returning them after school for safekeeping. Those whose families cannot afford this are forced to sit on dusty floors.
The school also suffers from a lack of electricity, water, and road access, which has discouraged many teachers from accepting postings. Those who do often show up only once a week, if at all.
“These children are eager to learn,” said MonITNG. “They show up every day, but the system tells them their future doesn’t matter.”
Community leaders and parents say they’ve written countless letters and lodged complaints with government authorities for years, with no response. The only time they see politicians is during campaign seasons, accompanied by empty promises and photo opportunities.
“All we are asking for are basic necessities — safe walls, desks, and committed teachers,” a parent said. “We don’t want luxury, we just want our children to have a chance.”
MonITNG concluded by urging the FCT authorities to act swiftly and decisively.
“All of this is happening in Nigeria’s capital,” the organization noted. “Despite billions allocated to education and infrastructure, communities like Dokuma are left in the shadows. We urge Minister Wike and Senator Kingibe to answer their cry. These children are not asking for much — just the chance to dream.”
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