INTRODUCTION
Living in Nigeria now is typically like living in a season of famine. Daily feeding has become difficult. We are seeing the prices of commodities skyrocketing to unbearable exorbitance. Mothers like me lament everyday as we approach the market to purchase foodstuffs for the family.
The economic condition of Nigeria is becoming more and more hazardous as the day goes by. During the previous government, we were glamouring for change. We thought that the handlers of the economy then were unscrupulous. But it has been about eight months now since the present government took over power and the suffering of the masses has intensified. If you ask me, I will tell you that the heat we experienced in the outgoing government of former President Muhammad Buhari isn't as bad as what we are going through presently.
The response from the government has always been the same: "It shall be better; the pain will soon be over", and that, and that, and that! We are tired!
Anywhere, that is not the direction of my article. I want to express my profound gratitude to the Creator who makes the things that are most essential to our life easy for us to get. One such is water.
WATER, AN EVERYDAY NEED OF THE HOME
As I went out to fetch water from a nearby bore-hole, it occurred to me that this is a blessing which inflation does not affect. Then I began to imagine the various ways we make use of water. Bread has become too costly for a common man to afford yet we can do without bread but we can't do without water. Meat is only eaten by the rich now yet still without water the meat won't be cooked.
Life cannot be sustained without water. We use water to do the laundry at home. We use water to have our bath daily. We use water to prepare the meal that we eat. Water is absolutely one of the most essential commodities needed daily in our homes.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO OUR BODY
Water is useful in regulating our body temperature. That is, it keeps our body cool.
Every cell in our body needs water. In fact, we were taught that more than 70% of our body composition is water.
Water is the medium of transportation in our body. It carries nutrients, oxygen, and wastes products to and from the cells of the body.
Water is also a lubricant for the body joints.
Water helps in digestion and absorption of digested food.
Water also helps you maintain a healthy body weight.
WATER SOURCES AROUND US
Sourcing water is very easy and stress less in our community. Years back the government used to provide the public with pipe-borne water. These days, the crude corruption rocking the Nigerian public sector has eroded such infrastructures out of sight. Now we have to source water ourselves. Yet, as odd as that could sound, we are better off than when the government was providing us with pipe-borne water.
Individuals who have the financial strength to drill bore-holes connect them out for the general public to fetch. We do not pay to buy the water. Whenever there is power supply and the water has been pumped into the overhead tank, the general public fetch from there easily. God bless those generous hearts.
Another way of getting water in our locality is by digging wells. I have a personal well in my house. We can fetch as much water as we need from the wells without having shortage. Well that are dug deep enough do not get dried even in the harsh dry season. My family's well is deep enough. Many people in the neighborhood come to my house to fetch water from our well. The well water is used for doing laundry and for doing dishes. It is the water from the bore-holes that we use for drinking and for preparing food.
THE JOY OF WATER NOT BEING AFFECTED BY THE INFLATION
Like I said earlier, my country is currently suffering from terrible inflation. The prices of foodstuffs and general goods have gone more than tripled in the last few years. But thanks be to God because we do not need money to buy the water. This is what makes our lives much easier. Whatever one can get as food; however one can source for food, water won't be a problem to cook it. Even when there is no food one could still be sustained with water as if in a fast.
CONCLUSION
Life wouldn't have been easy in this West African country if we were to use money to get water. There are several uses of water around us. It is a thing of great relief to know that despite this biting inflation, water can still be source for freely and costless.
