By Olokuta Rofiat
The Federal Government has announced plans to prioritise the provision of clean and safe water to rural communities across Nigeria, in a renewed drive to close persistent gaps in water access.
The move, disclosed on Tuesday, comes amid concerns that millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, still lack potable water despite years of intervention programmes.
Estimates show that more than 110 million people in the country rely on unsafe sources.
Officials said the new priority will build on existing schemes such as the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) and the World Bank-assisted Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (SURWASH).
While these initiatives were designed to improve nationwide access, implementation has been hampered by inadequate funding, weak monitoring, and limited state-level commitment.
The government linked its renewed focus to the National Action Plan for Revitalising the WASH Sector, launched in 2018, which sets out a 13-year roadmap toward universal water access by 2030.
It also reaffirmed support for complementary campaigns such as “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet,” aimed at curbing open defecation and improving sanitation in underserved communities.
Stakeholders welcomed the announcement but cautioned that meaningful progress would depend on stronger collaboration between federal and state governments, alongside adequate financing and accountability.
