The Nigeria Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE) reports that at least 179 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water. According to the group, urban residents are forced to rely on contaminated sources, which contributes to the spread of various diseases across the country.
NIWE National Chairman Adeyinka Sobowale disclosed these figures during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, held to mark World Water Day. He cited data from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping, a study conducted by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2021. The research involved an inter‑agency project that included the Bureau of Statistics and partners such as UNESCO and UNICEF.
Sobowale emphasized that “up to 87 percent (179 million) of Nigerians do not have access to safely managed drinking‑water services.” He noted that these services are primarily provided by government‑owned state water agencies, which have performed poorly in recent years. Consequently, many Nigerians resort to self‑supply from unsafe water sources.
He warned that the lack of a functional water‑supply system has broader implications: “A nation that cannot feed its people adequately is still at the cradle of development. A large percentage of Nigerians are food insecure.”
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