52.8 million Nigerians lack access to potable water – FG

The Federal Government on Tuesday said that 33 per cent representing about 52.8 million of the country’s total population currently lacked access to potable water.


The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe while presenting a three year score card of the ministry said before inception of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, access to potable water was 58 per cent, adding that with the reforms in the sector, the access has now increased to 67 per cent.

She said from recent national assessment of the ministry, the federal government had been able to move sanitation from 32 per cent to 41 per cent.

She said, “The primary responsibility for the provision of municipal and domestic water supply is that of the States and Local Governments.

“However, Federal Government intervenes to increase access in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2020.

“Before the inception of this administration, access to potable water was 58 per cent. Access is now 67 per cent, while sanitation moved from 32 per cent to 41 per cent under the recent national assessment .

“This has been made possible through the efforts of the three tiers of government and development partners.”

The minister also said the federal government had approved the reorganization of the River Basin Development Agencies to make them responsive to their mandate and accelerate the vital role water plays in the socio-economic life and well being of the people.

“The Ministry will continue to perform its mandate to ensure efficient and effective utilization of the nation’s water resources.

“Efforts will be made to complete all on-going dams, irrigation, water supply and other critical projects.

“The RBDAs will be strengthened for improved performance especially for grassroots development.”

Ochekpe said as part of Federal Government’s intervention efforts, the ministry has provided a total of 4,940 water supply facilities nationwide from 2010 to date.

Out of this number, the minister said 4,099 newly constructed, mostly rural water facilities, and 143 rehabilitated facilities have been completed nationwide while work on 698 water supply projects are currently on-going in many States.

She put the total installed capacities of the completed water facilities at 1.9 million cubic meters per day.

This, according to her, is capable of meeting the water demand of about 30 million people, especially those living in the rural areas and small towns.

The National Water Supply Sector Reform initiated by the Ministry is being implemented in 12 States with the assistance of some Development Partners;

The minister also said the National Water Supply Sector Reform, which was initiated by the ministry is being implemented in 12 states with the assistance of some development partners.

The states are Lagos, Cross River, Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu, Oyo, Taraba, Cross River, Anambra, Osun, Jigawa, and Kano.

The project, she explained would help to increase access to piped water networks in the selected urban areas and improve reliability and financial viability of the State Water Agencies for sustainable service delivery.