Many Nigerians continue to lack access to clean water sources with about 75 percent of people spread over six diverse geopolitical zones unable to afford safe and acceptable water. Water rights and the provision of clean drinking water for Nigerians have not been given adequate priority in the country’s 1999 Constitution. Data on access to water provision and sanitation in Nigeria have also been conflicting due to the lack of sector monitoring by the different water agencies in the country.
A key challenge to water and sanitation security in Nigeria is the dearth of the use of science and technology, even in its simplest form, for storing and extracting water both for the medium and long term. Investing in viable water provision and sanitation using technological interventions will not only drive development but promote synergy and effectiveness of water supply.
If this is compromised, then the realization of the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (which are charged with the development, operation, and management of reservoirs and other hydraulic infrastructure) could be threatened.
The Issues of Legislation, Control, and Surveillance of Water Provision and Sanitation
According to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources, several projects were initiated in 2019 to institutionalize community participation in the implementation of rural drinking water supply schemes through partnerships to improve water supply.
However, beyond the different government agencies and parastatals tasked with handling issues relating to water supply and sanitation in Nigeria, there is an urgent need for the establishment of firm legislation, control, and surveillance to strengthen the existing infrastructures.
Figure 1 gives a schematic representation of how various Nigerian government agencies are involved in supplying drinking water to both urban and rural people. Besides, the efforts of the Federal and State governments are also backed by international organizations and multi-laterals such as the WHO, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, and the European Union. These external support agencies have made critical contributions to the sector in terms of sustaining implementation and experimentation at the project stage, research, and establishment of technological innovations.
The Role of Technology in Sustainable Water Supply in Nigeria
In Nigeria, communities have a particularly strong tradition of water harvesting – they effectively meet their water needs by collecting rainwater, storing water from streams, and tapping sub-surface water for their wells. Unfortunately, these traditional technologies and methods are not sustainable, especially in the dry seasons when the rains stop, and the streams and well dry up. Evidently, there is a dire need for modern technologies and practices if Nigerians must enjoy clean, affordable, and long-term water supply in water-stressed times.
To enable technology in the delivery of quality water provision and sanitation, low-cost technologies can be employed in the meantime across all zones for tackling chemical and bacteriological problems. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has to be regularly updated on the knowledge of technologies.
Researches have to be conducted by trained engineers to support the successful implementation of these technologies. There is also a need to enable relevant professionals to design, implement, and promote user-friendly technologies for water harvesting. Lastly, safe drinking water supply via technological pathways should be linked to job creation in rural Nigeria.
Figure 2 provides an insight into the distribution of households by main sources of water supply in Nigeria for domestic purposes in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
The role of technology is very key in the expansion of the continual supply of drinking water and in the fulfillment of any country’s vision of making safe drinking water available to all people all year round. However, from Figure 1, it is evident that technology penetration has rarely taken place in most parts of Nigeria.
The Figure shows how the North-East zone has the highest patronage of unprotected wells, with the North-West zone, South-East, and North-Central tying as the highest in their reliance on lakes, rivers, or ponds as sources of domestic water. Southwest, however, ranks highest in the use of treated pipe-borne sources. Clearly, all six geopolitical zones are deficient in harvesting rainwater for domestic water utilization.
These poor water supply conditions have resulted in increased vulnerability to water-borne diseases in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organisation, 73 percent of diarrhea and enteric diseases in the country have been linked to poor access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene, and led to more than 70,000 child mortality in under-fives yearly.
The Need for Technological Interventions in Sustainable Clean Drinking Water in Nigeria
Taking lessons from other countries like India, there is a demand to improve upon Nigeria’s traditional water management methods. While the country is endowed with a rich and vast diversity in water resources, integrated water management using technology is vital for poverty reduction and sustainable economic development. Nigeria is a country with enormous regional diversity and cultural preferences, which require diverse solutions within local contexts. Sustainability in water provision and sanitation systems can, therefore, be ensured when projects are handled with scientific knowledge at the grassroots level.
Under Nigeria’s surging population, policy gaps, and limited resources, it may prove complex to improve access to sustainable water supply. But until the use of technology for safe drinking water is taken more seriously, the health of Nigerians, especially rural citizens, will remain threatened and children may continue to die from preventable water-borne diseases.
Government institutions, along with external support agencies, need to employ technological solutions that consider water provision as more than just for the public good but an economic opportunity for citizens.