Experts Blame Lack of Planning for Poor Access to Drinking Water

French govt, Netherlands, UNICEF highlight efforts to ensure safe drinking water in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe States

The Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE), yesterday, blamed poor planning, lack of coordination and integration among government ministries and agencies, as one of the reasons, for very low access by Nigerians to safely managed drinking water services.

This is as the French government has through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) highlighted its ongoing support for water supply initiatives in Nigeria.

The NIWE National Chairman, Dr. Adeyinka Sobowale, disclosed this while answering questions at a press conference, on 2024 World Water Day Celebration, with the theme, 'Water for Peace' held at Bolude Oyebolu Engineering Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Quoting 2021 Water, Sanitation

Hygiene, National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) report that covers 36 states of the federation, NIWE, Sobowale said up to 87 per cent or 179 million of Nigerians do not have access to safely managed drinking water services.

According to him, residents resorted to consumption of water from unhygienic sources, with resultant effects of water borne diseases.

Flanked by the National Programme Leader, Mrs. Temitope Aboyeji and NIWE Ogun State branch Chairman, Abiola Oyerinde, the chairman, specifically, said due to lack of planning, the government ended creating another problem while trying to solve one.

He said many water water pipelines constructed with loans from the World Bank, were uprooted and some damaged during road construction.

Sobowae said the two projects of water and road would have been of high benefits to residents if planning had taken into consideration, water pipelines before road projects execution.

"Infrastructure is planned together not in isolation of one another, which brings about collaboration between line agencies of government and ministries. Now we have the Ministry of Works constructing roads which is highly welcomed by the people and very important for socio-economic development.

"However, the roads should not take water away from people which is the case in most urban centres.

"Most of the water pipes that had already been laid by World Bank loan were removed particularly in Abeokuta for instance