In Nigeria, Potable Water a Luxury for the Rich

In 2021, 111,062 Cholera cases were suspected in Nigeria with a total death figure of 3,604 in thirty four states of the country.

In Nigeria’s federal capital territory, a community in parts of Zuba, relies on rain for water. In the community, no rain means no water, water produced from wells is usually dirty and undrinkable.  When Dataphyte visited the community, the only other source of water was a public tank which did not have water,  leaving many residents stranded. Residents said this was usually the case except during the rainy season. The community is disconnected from the water supplied by the Water Board.

The situation is the same in Ogbaagba, Osun state, the community river is contaminated and the only source of water was a single public tank meant to serve about a hundred houses in the community. Community leaders stated that making the water available requires electricity which also comes at a cost.

The only Water Tank in Ogbaagba

The absence of potable water in many communities across the country detracts from Nigeria’s ability to achieve SDG 6, access to clean water and sanitation. At different times the Nigerian government had restated its commitment to ensuring clean and potable water but the challenge persists in all regions of the country. 

Ogbagba River, Unfit for Drinking 

As of 2015, Global Waters noted that only forty-eight percent of Nigerians have access to basic drinking water services. In 2018, it was revealed that 60 million Nigerians lacked access to drinking water. UNICEF revealed that one-third of Nigeria’s population still drinks contaminated water.

Water Aid also warned that Nigeria’s water dilemma will only be compounded by climate change.

Alternative Sources of Water Don’t Come Cheap

In the absence of portable drinking water, most households rely on what is known as ‘pure water’. However, over the years, the cost of buying pure water has continued to rise and is currently sold for N20 for one sachet and between N250 and N300 for a bag of 20 sachets. Each sachet contains 50cl of water and an adult is advised to drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water everyday. That translates to about 5 to 6 sachets everyday per person; in a 4-person household, that’s 24 pure water sachets, more than 1 bag.  In 1 week, that is at least eight bags of water and at the cost of N250 that is N2000 per week, in a month the cost of drinking water in a 4 person household is about N8000, 26% of Nigeria’s minimum wage.

This is the cost of drinking sachet waters and does not include water for things like bathing, cleaning and washing. In most cities, the water for these “extras’ ‘ is supplied by water barrows, who sell water in gallons of 25kg. Respondents told Dataphyte that eight gallons of water costs about N300. If a household uses 8 gallons per day, they would have spent N9000 in a 30-day month, 30% of minimum wage.

Average Monthly living wage for an individual in Nigeria in 2022 is N43,200 and N137.6 thousand for a family. The cost of buying water for drinking and other purposes is about 12% for a family of four.

Bottled water for drinking is a luxury reserved for the super rich in the country, the water project defined ‘bottled water as unnecessarily expensive’. In Nigeria, it costs between fifty nairas or a hundred nairas for a bottle of water and maybe more depending on the brand. And although these brands of water are perceived as most reliable for drinking, drinking just one bottled water of about 75cl per day can gulp as much as N3000 in a month.

Want to create your own water source? The cost of drilling a borehole is between N120,000 and N600,000. 

Cholera on the Prowl

According to details released by the National Centre for Disease Control, in 2021, 111,062 cases of Cholera were suspected in Nigeria with a total death figure of 3,604 in thirty-four states of the country.

The Centre for Disease Control blames Cholera on food or water contaminated by Cholera bacteria

Despite Challenges, Nigeria Targets 90%  Residents Accessing Safe Drinking Water by 2025

The country’s national development plan highlights a plan to ensure that 90% of Nigerians have access to safe drinking water by 2025.

How Nigeria can ensure better water provision,  promote access

WaterAid notes that for Nigeria to achieve SDG 6 aimed at clean water and sanitation, there is need for political will. According to the body, this will help to solve the issue of finance, maintenance and operations regarding water facilities around the country, recommending involvement of players and government at all levels for the achievement of this goal. 

The Borgen Project also stated that there is a need to review Nigeria’s water Act which places burden of funding water projects on percentages across state, local and federal levels.  It was opined that the provision of the federal government funding 30%, state government 60% and Local government 10% for water projects may not be feasible to tackle demands of the country’s water sector, hence a need to review provisions of these Act.

The world bank also blames Nigeria’s water challenge on poor infrastructure in the water boards, poor investment and inadequate regulatory environment, recommending the need to tackle these issues for efficient resolution of Nigeria’s water crisis.