Nigeria: Growing Water Crisis

With a population of well over 120 million people, less than 30% of Nigerians have access to safe drinking water. Successive governments in Nigeria have spent several billions of Dollars in providing safe drinking water. Critics claim that most of these projects failed due to fraud. Yakubu Ozohu-Suleiman who has been investigating the growing water debacle mentions the National Water Rehabilitation Project, the Improved, National Access to Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (INAWSSP), an Agricultural Development Bank assisted project, and the constructing of a second water treatment plant in the Federal Capital Territory. All across the country, the mass of people have been left to continue drinking water containing iron sulphide and all sorts of bacteria, germs and suspended matter capable of causing diseases. Most local and state governments whose primary responsibility is to provide water, are spending millions purchasing treatment chemicals for water that is not available.

Source: Daily Trust, 15 Jul 2002