The League of Civil Society Organizations in Kano State has raised serious concerns over worsening water scarcity across the state, describing the situation as a “full-blown humanitarian and socio-economic crisis” affecting both urban and rural communities.
In a detailed statement endorsed by 23 CSOs and issued on Monday, the League said residents in several parts of Kano metropolis, including Sabon Gari and Yankifi, as well as key artisan hubs, have endured inconsistent or nonexistent pipe-borne water supply for decades.
The League acknowledged recent inspection visits by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the Tamburawa and Challawa Water Treatment Plants and his administration’s commitment to rehabilitating the facilities. However, it stressed that the reality for most residents remains dire.
“For the average Kano resident, water is no longer a right; it is an expensive luxury,” the statement said.
According to the League’s findings, the cost of water has placed an overwhelming burden on households.
A 25-litre jerrycan reportedly sells for as much as N200 in many neighbourhoods, forcing families to spend up to N2,000 daily and about N60,000 monthly on water alone, an amount the League described as unsustainable in the face of rising inflation.
The crisis, it added, disproportionately affects women and children, many of whom spend between three and five hours daily searching for water.
This, the group warned, has implications for school attendance among girls and reduced economic productivity for women.
Despite a 2026 state budget of N1.477 trillion, with N64 billion allocated to water supply and rural access, the League noted that only a few of the state’s 22 water treatment plants, mainly Tamburawa and Challawa, are partially operational, often hindered by leakages and mechanical faults.
The organization emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental right and a key component of the global development agenda under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which mandates equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
It warned that the continued lack of potable water could lead to increased outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as residents resort to unsafe sources.
While commending the state government for identifying issues such as pipe leakages and illegal diversions, the League insisted that “identification is not rectification,” urging authorities to move swiftly from diagnosis to action.
It also called for a clear and time-bound roadmap regarding the reported partnership with a Chinese firm for plant rehabilitation.
To address the crisis, the League proposed a series of reforms, including the adoption of smart water networks to reduce losses, decentralized solar-powered water systems, and the establishment of a Water Services Regulatory Commission to enforce accountability.
Other recommendations include stricter regulation of private water vendors, enforcement of environmental standards to protect water sources, performance-based budgeting tied to measurable outcomes, and the introduction of citizen-led monitoring systems to track infrastructure and report faults.
The League also advocated annual public water forums and social audits to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Concluding, the League reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the government but stressed that its primary responsibility remains to the people.
“The time for feasibility studies is over. The time for survival has begun,” the statement said, urging authorities to act with urgency to prevent what it described as a “slow-motion catastrophe.”
Endorsed By:
- Comrade Bala Abdullahi Gaduwama – Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN)
- Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Esq. – Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN)
- Mohammed Bello – African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD)
- Abdullahi Y. Sule – Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA)
- Abdulkadir Musa Hausawa – Youth Enlightenment Forum
- Adeniyi Aremu, Esq. – Civil Society Organization for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN)
- Sani Ilyas Abdullahi, Esq. – Joint Action Front (JAF), Kano State
- Comrade Fatima A. Ibrahim – United Action for Democracy (UAD), Kano State
- Comrade Khadija Hudu A. – Justice, Accountability and Rights Advocacy Centre
- Comrade Moh’d Sani Garba – Pay it Forward Initiative
- Fatima Muhammad – Gender Inclusive and Development Support Initiative, Kano
- Aminu Sani Muhammad, Esq. – Rule of Law and Justice Advancement Network (ROLJAN)
- Comrade M. K. Adam – Societal-Based Initiative for Rights, Peace and Development (SOBIRPED)
- Fatima Ibrahim Badamasi – Gender Support and Youth Empowerment Initiative (GENSAYE)
- Buhari Abubakar Usman – Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid (CELOHA)
- Abdullahi Yahaya, Esq. – Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Kano State
- Comrade Auwal Salisu – Centre for Awareness Reorientation and Empowerment (CARE-Africa)
- Umar Isa Sulaiman, Esq. – Frontier for Gender Advocacy, Accountability & Empowerment Initiative.
- Maryam Garba Usman – Centre for Gender and Social Inclusion (CAGSI)
- Fatima Chabir Aliyu, Esq. – Community-Based Equal Justice Initiative
- Comrade Salisu Ibrahim Sa’eed – Kano Youth Integrity Forum
- Comrade Baraya Garba Hassan – Centre for Education, Health and Entrepreneurship Development (CEHED), Nigeria.
- Abba Bello Ahmed – Campaign for Democracy (CD), Kano State
