The indispensable place of potable water as a basic human need, cannot be overemphasised. Odourless, tasteless and free from other contaminants as well as disease-causing bacteria, have been identified as the basic characteristics of potable water.
African Ministers Council on Water Resources at its inception in 2002, stressed the importance of water thus, “no water, no life,” and further stated that every drop counts. This buttresses the UN SDG 6, which describes access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right and an essential step towards improving living standard.
In 2017 when World Bank study on the water supply sanitation situation in the country was analysed, it turned out that in 1992, 30% of the Nigerian population was enjoying pipe-borne water. But by 2015, it dropped to 7%.
Nigeria subscribed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000-2015, but was not able to meet the target. The target, according to statistics, was aimed at ensuring that 75% of the population gained access to potable water but the country managed to get 69% while 50% of the rural population didn’t have access as at 2015.
Over the years, the population of the country has been increasing but investment in water resources has not been commensurate with population growth. Sadly, this narrative is replicated in many parts of the country.
Kaduna state governor, Mallam el-Rufai, revealed recently that the water scheme existing installation in Kaduna was for about one million people. Today, the population of Kaduna is more than three million. Besides, the facility has broken down, and not operating at optimum capacity.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is a creation of statute and it has the FCT Water Master Plan. With a population target of not more than 3.5 million, the city was meant to have a centralised water supply, and independent water schemes for the satellite towns. But as developmental efforts commenced in the city, there was a high surge in population and a lot of errors were committed in terms of allocation of land. Areas that were supposed to be green were converted to residential conditions and other purposes. Now, water meant for the city is supplied to the satellite towns. The water from the Usman Dam is targeted at the city but it has been extended to Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Nyanya and Karu by fiat. From estimation, per capita water consumption for Abuja is higher than any other city in Nigeria. Because of this challenge, water is not supplied effectively in the city.
Nasarawa as the fastest growing population in north-central Nigeria, has its share of water supply problems. In Lafia, the Amba River infrastructure constructed more than 40 years ago is obsolete and plans are yet to materialize to adequately provide water for the increasing population. Similarly, regional water schemes at Doma Dam and Akwanga along the Mada River constructed under the AfDB initiative and inaugurated in the 90s, have ceased to make the desired impact on the people. It is the same story in Nasarawa Eggon and Nasarawa towns where obsolete infrastructure at their water works is incapable of meeting needs. Generally, the taps of public supply lines are either not working or under-performing in areas like Wamba where government constructed solar-powered boreholes.
The average neighborhood in Nigeria reveals a plethora of boreholes which implies that pipe-borne water sources from the government are not adequate. Government has failed to provide potable water for the citizens hence the need for self-help through sinking of boreholes without regard to principles such as observing few metres away from soakaways.
There should be collective measures towards ensuring easy access to potable water. Investments that need to be made in the water sector are huge but too often, political leaders do not make those long-term investments in improving water access. The responsibility of the federal government is to support the states by creating the enabling environment in terms of construction of dams, treatment plants, providing bulk water supply, among others, while the states should carry out water reticulation in a segmented manner. This means treating water and making it available for domestic and industrial use.
However, progress in this direction is hampered by lack of water supply master plans in some states. The Otuoke Water Supply Scheme was constructed with N6b by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and handed over to the Bayelsa state government. The project was commissioned in September 2016 by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, and it was supposed to serve 13 communities in the state. Two months later, the communities locked up the facility, citing inability to spend N2m monthly to buy diesel to run the scheme.
Likewise, the Owena Multi-Purpose Dam in Ondo state was completed over 30 years ago by the federal government. The facility has the capacity to supply water to major towns in Akure, Owo, Ondo and other neighbouring communities. Over 20 years ago, the government also built a treatment plant that was not put to use for close to 10 years. The state failed to fix the transmission and distribution lines to revamp the scheme. But current efforts of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to resuscitate the project are commendable.
One would have thought that these observable gaps ought to be taken up at the subnational entities. But certain factors tend to hamper them from optimal function including lack of political will, funding, energy crisis, among others. In some states, water corporations are not given a free hand to operate smoothly. State governors seem to control water corporations and appoint general managers of state water boards who are fired at will. There was a time when the position of general manager of a water board used to be a death sentence.
Water infrastructure in Nigeria is pathetic. But with political will and adequate planning, many challenges confronting safe water supply can be systematically tackled. Various water agencies need to collaborate and share information with a view to identifying the areas of lack or need as well as what could be done to improve access.
The three tiers of government should work together to provide critical infrastructure on data and tighten regulations controlling water quality and water quality database. The existing provisions should be strengthened including the Water Resources Act, Natural Water Resources and the River Basin Development Authorities Act and the Nigeria Hydraulic Services Act. With this, the government can go into concession arrangement with the private sector for efficient management that will generate revenue to maintain and expand water scheme.
As part of its technical support, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources is negotiating with the World Bank for a $700m facility that will be competed for by the states to empower them to invest in urban infrastructure and rural water supply and sanitation. But because the fund may not be enough to go round the 36 states, states have to show commitment by opening escrow accounts and having water master plans. In addition, states must also ensure that their urban water schemes impact the local governments. Meeting these conditions will guarantee access to the fund.
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