A recent report titled โDry Taps: A Damning Verdict on the State of Water Utilities in Nigeriaโ has shed light on the alarming state of the nationโs water infrastructure. Conducted by a coalition of civil society organizations, including the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) and the Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), the study exposes widespread neglect, corruption, and underfunding in water utilities across six states: Enugu, Edo, Lagos, Oyo, Kogi, and Kano.
๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ:
- ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐: Many water facilities are operating below capacity due to aging equipment and lack of maintenance. For instance, the Ikpoba River Dam in Edo State, once producing over 90 million gallons daily, has been abandoned.
- ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ: Despite significant funding allocations, thereโs little evidence of improvement. In Lagos, approximately โฆ760 million was allocated in 2017 for rehabilitating 48 mini and micro waterworks, yet many remain non-functional.
- ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ: Issues such as erratic power supply, inadequate funding for treatment chemicals, and irregular staff salaries further cripple the sector.
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ:
The consequences are dire. UNICEF reports that 26.5 million Nigerian children experience high or extremely high water vulnerability, accounting for 29% of the nationโs children.
Additionally, only 26.5% of the population uses improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities, leading to increased susceptibility to water-borne diseases.
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ:
- Declaration of a State of Emergency: Recognizing the severity of the crisis to mobilize resources and attention.
- Enhanced Public Participation: Involving communities in planning and decision-making processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Rejection of Privatization: Opposing water privatization efforts to safeguard public access and control.
- Comprehensive Audits: Investigating the utilization of funds allocated to the water sector to identify and address corruption and mismanagement.
As Nigeria approaches World Water Day 2025, this report serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure equitable access to safe and clean water for all citizens.
