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By: Oluwadare Joshua Oyebode.
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Nigeria faces persistent water-related challenges which include inadequate urban water supply, fragmented governance, groundwater pollution, unsustainable abstraction, poor infrastructure operation and maintenance, and weak enforcement of standards. This paper examines how legislation and engineering regulatory bodies when properly designed and applied can be deployed as practical tools to tackle these problems. Using a multi-method approach-a policy analysis, case studies, and interviews with stakeholders-these are the main gaps in enforcement mechanisms, resource allocation, and regulatory practices that the study has found in the water sector. The current legal framework (including the Water Resources Act and national policies), major reform initiatives (the National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme and associated model regulatory laws), and the roles of engineering regulators and professional bodies (notably COREN, NIWE, and NSE) were reviewed. Despite the large amount of fresh water, the ability of Nigeria to manage her water supply is immensely diminished because of the weaknesses in enforcement, socio-political challenges, and transboundary water disputes. Drawing on policy documents, project reports and contemporary debate over the National Water Resources Bill, the paper identifies strengths, gaps and political-economy obstacles and proposes a set of legal, institutional and technical recommendations aimed at operationalizing effective governance, professional oversight, accountability, financing and community engagement to deliver sustainable water services in Nigeria. Specifically, the findings underline the urgency of strengthening the Nigerian legislative framework regarding improvement of the technical capacity of engineering regulating bodies, taking into account socio-political influence in water distribution. The study recommends increased funding, localized enforcement strategies, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative frameworks for regional water management. Such steps will lead to increased resiliency and equity in the water management system as it faces Nigeria’s increasing environmental challenges and supports sustainable development. Adding to this increasing discussion on water governance in developing countries, this paper can form the backbone for further research into community-based water management and transboundary cooperation.
Citation:
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