The federal government has declared a renewed fight against water contamination and poor sanitation with over 25% of Nigerians still relying on unsafe water sources.
At the launch of the first-ever Annual Water Quality Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, warned that Nigeria’s water crisis is a major public health emergency that must be addressed urgently.
He said: “We cannot ignore the fact that millions of Nigerians are still exposed to deadly waterborne diseases due to unsafe drinking water. This conference is a turning point in our collective efforts to change that reality.
“According to the 2021 WASH National Outcomes Report, Nigeria’s water access is far from safe. About 37% of households rely on boreholes and tube wells, often with unregulated drilling that contaminates water sources.
“Meanwhile, 25% of Nigerians still depend on unsafe surface water, exposing them to cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. Only 11% of Nigerians have access to pipe-borne water, highlighting the failure of urban water supply systems.
“Additionally, open defecation and unregulated wastewater discharge have polluted Nigeria’s freshwater sources, making waterborne diseases a persistent public health threat.
“Determined to reverse these alarming trends, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation unveiled a comprehensive action plan, including establishing 12 National Water Quality Laboratories to monitor and regulate drinking water safety, developing Nigeria’s first Community Water Safety Plan to empower rural communities in preventing water contamination, launching a National Drinking Water Quality Assessment to track progress toward SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and standardizing Nigeria’s Drinking Water Quality Regulations to curb unregulated borehole drilling and enforce water safety laws.”
Utsev stressed that the time for mere discussions is over, saying that it is crucial to take bold action to protect Nigerians from unsafe water.
The conference, themed “Safe Water for Sustainable Public Health,” brings together state agencies, development partners, and industry experts to strategize on strengthening water quality policies, eliminating threats to drinking water safety, improving national water monitoring systems, and expanding access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, described contaminated water as a silent killer, urging all stakeholders to work towards a Nigeria where no one dies from preventable waterborne diseases.
“The solution is clear—stronger regulations, innovative monitoring, and greater accountability,” he stated.
Stakeholders including UNICEF, WaterAid, Society for Family Health, Nestlé, and the Nigerian Bottling Company, pledged support in tackling the crisis.
(The Nation)
