Speaking at the launch of the Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and Guidelines for Rural Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Surveillance in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, emphasized the need for change in the subpar state of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions in the nation.
Citing the 2021 WASH Normal Outcome Routine Mapping 3, Utsev noted that only 67% of the population has access to basic water supply services, with a mere 13% enjoying access to safely managed drinking water services. These figures indicate a stark contrast between the availability of water and its quality.
The report further disclosed that water contamination occurs at the source and at the point of consumption, with percentages reaching 68% and 70%, respectively. Utsev, represented by Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation within the ministry, emphasized the collective responsibility of all states in providing clean and safe drinking water for their respective populations.
“However, only 28 out of the 36 states have urban water supply utilities or state water agencies with 16 states having fully functional urban utilities, while 12 were partially functional.
“About 41 per cent of all taps fed by urban water utility supply are contaminated with faecal matter.
“A conscious effort must be made for access to improved water sources to ensure that water safety measures that minimise drinking water contamination from the source to the point of use are in place,” he said.
The minister noted the significance of the event as a platform for all stakeholders to collectively pursue sustainability objectives, particularly in light of the persistently poor management of many water supply utilities, often resulting in system breakdowns and abandonment.
Mrs. Zuliat Mohammed, serving as the Desk Officer for Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM), emphasized the recurring issue of unsustainable water utility management.
