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The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to address Nigeria’s persistent water-quality challenges, with the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation strengthening measures aimed at ensuring Nigerians have access to safe and potable water. The government’s approach includes improving water-quality monitoring, expanding access to reliable water infrastructure and increasing public awareness about safe water practices. The renewed focus comes amid concerns over contamination of water sources and inadequate access to safely managed drinking water in several communities across the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has stressed that improving water quality requires cooperation between government institutions, communities, development partners and the private sector. The Federal Government has previously developed a Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and established water-quality laboratories to strengthen monitoring and surveillance. Community Water Safety Plans have also been introduced to help communities identify contamination risks and protect local water sources. In addition, programmes such as PEWASH and SURWASH are being used to improve water and sanitation services, particularly in underserved areas.
The government’s efforts also include infrastructure projects designed to increase the supply of treated water. For instance, the Federal Government commissioned the ₦5.7bn Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Yobe, expected to serve more than one million residents in Gashua and neighbouring communities, while other water projects are being implemented across different states. Stakeholders have emphasised that infrastructure alone will not solve the problem and that Nigerians must also adopt safer practices in collecting, treating, storing and using water. The Federal Government is therefore combining infrastructure investment, regulation, monitoring and public education in its broader effort to improve water quality and protect public health nationwide.
