Stakeholders within the water sector have raised the alarm over the excessive degree of water contamination in Nigeria, warning that unsafe ingesting water continues to pose vital well being dangers to tens of millions.
The issues had been raised on Tuesday on the inaugural Water High quality Convention 2025 in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Assets and Sanitation in collaboration with the Nationwide Core Group on Water High quality.
Local weather and WASH Supervisor, UNICEF, Chiranjibi Tiwari, in a goodwill message, gave alarming statistics indicating that over two-thirds of Nigeria’s water sources are contaminated.
These contaminants, he famous, are chargeable for a number of waterborne illnesses, together with cholera and typhoid, which proceed to ravage communities throughout the nation.
“Greater than 111,000 cholera instances had been recorded in 2021, main to three,600 deaths. Though the numbers declined in subsequent years, we nonetheless noticed 592 deaths in 2022 and 128 in 2023. Even Lagos, which was not historically affected, skilled a cholera outbreak in 2024,” Tiwari acknowledged.
He warned that until pressing motion is taken, Nigeria’s financial productiveness may endure, as youngsters, youth, and the working inhabitants stay susceptible to waterborne illnesses.He subsequently known as for multi-sectoral collaboration, stressing that attaining Sustainable Growth Aim (SDG) 6—common entry to wash water—requires authorities, personal sector, and civil society engagement.
The Minister of Water Assets and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in his keynote tackle, reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to making sure entry to protected and clear water as a cornerstone for public well being and nationwide growth.
Utsev stated that regardless of vital hurdles, the ministry is leveraging developments in water high quality administration, working with native and worldwide companions to boost public well being, environmental sanitation, and entry to wash water.
He stated a significant part of this effort is the push to finish open defecation, a vital step in bettering water security and sanitation nationwide.In accordance with Utsev, as a part of the technique, the ministry has developed the Nigerian Roadmap for Water High quality Administration, which serves as a information for guaranteeing a protected water provide.The minister added that the Freshwater Restoration and Supply Water Safety Programme has been launched to safeguard rivers, lakes, and reservoirs from contamination.
To reinforce water high quality assurance, Nigeria has instituted nationwide requirements, together with the Nigeria Customary for Ingesting Water High quality and the Nigerian Requirements for Ambient Water High quality, whereas additionally finalizing the Nigerian Customary for Irrigation Water High quality, stated Prof. Utsev.
Elizabeth Ogoh, Director of Water High quality, representing the Everlasting Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Assets and Sanitation, Philip Richards Pheelangwa, emphasised that protected water is not only a public well being situation but in addition a nationwide financial and environmental precedence.
“This convention is a platform to debate vital sub-themes corresponding to coverage and governance, well being implications of unsafe water, present water high quality realities, and monitoring mechanisms,” she stated.Pheelangwa known as for stronger institutional frameworks, revolutionary options, and regulatory enforcement to enhance Nigeria’s water high quality.
The convention, which gathered policymakers, consultants, trade leaders, and growth companions, is anticipated to generate actionable suggestions to strengthen water high quality administration and curb the unfold of waterborne illnesses in Nigeria.
