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.

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1. Aliyu, A. & Amadu, L. (2017). Urbanization, cities, and health: The challenges to Nigeria—a review. Annals of African Medicine, 16(4), 149-158. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_56_17
2. Allouche, J. (2020). Nationalism and transboundary water conflicts in the Middle East. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(6), 991-1007.
3. Amaefule, I., Nwankwoala, H., & Abam, T. K. S. (2023). Addressing water scarcity in Nigeria: Implications of human activities and climate change. Environmental Science and Policy, 134, 10-20.
4. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023a). Groundwater quality assessment in urban Nigeria: A focus on Nnewi and Awka. Journal of Water and Health, 21(2), 250-263.
5. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023b). Seasonal variation effects on water quality in Southwestern Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(4), 2345.
6. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023c). Impact of industrial greenhouse emissions on water quality in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(1), 1009-1022.
7. Coning, C., & Shrwill, J. (2004). Water governance and South African water policy: A critical review. Water SA, 30(5), 519-530.
8. Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). (n.d.). Engineering regulatory and monitoring. COREN official site.
9. Egbueri, J. C. (2023a). Integrated assessment of groundwater quality in Anambra State, Nigeria. Water Research, 207, 117794.
10. Egbueri, J. C. (2023b). Nitrate health risk assessment in Nigerian communities: A case study in Umunya. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(1), 99-110.
11. Ehinomen, C., & Adjivon, M. T. (2018). Water and sanitation access in Nigeria: A review. Journal of African Studies, 24(3), 345-358.
12. Ewuzie, E., Adegoke, O. & Adeyemi, S. (2021). Environmental impact assessment and water quality in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Management, 305, 114257.
13. Federal Ministry of Water Resources & Sanitation. Mandate and functions. Retrieved from Federal Ministry website.
14. Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1993). Water Resources Act(1993 No.101). FAOLEX PDF.
15. Gürsoy, N. (2024). Water scarcity and farmer-herder conflicts in Northern Nigeria. Conflict and Society, 15(1), 23-39.
16. Hussein, H. (2018). Water scarcity and nationalism: Four dimensions of scarcity. Water International, 43(3), 398-410.
17. Ighalo, J. & Adeniyi, T. (2020). Quality of surface and groundwater systems in Nigeria: A review. Environmental Reviews, 28(4), 397-410.
18. Mehta, L. (2003). Water scarcity and the social construction of water. Journal of Environment & Development, 12(2), 109-123.
19. Ndimele, P. E., & Egbueri, J. C. (2024). Ramsar conservation area of Lake Chad and water scarcity. International Journal of Hydrology, 10(2), 57-66.
20. Omeka, O. . (2024). Groundwater quality assessment using advanced machine learning techniques in Nigeria. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 69(3), 345-356.
21. Pona, T., Ayejoto, O., & Abugu, J. (2021). Population growth and water scarcity in Nigerian urban centers. Water Resource Management, 34(6), 995-1004.
22. Premium Times / Vanguard / Public reporting. (2023). Senate rejects National Water Resources Bill (coverage on legislative outcome).
23. Sultana, F. (2011). Gendering scarcity: The politics of water in Bangladesh. Gender, Place & Culture, 18(4), 481-498.
24. Verma, R. & Ratan, A. (2020). Environmental impact of water pollution: A comparative study of air, water, and land pollution. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 77(1), 44-56.
25. Wheeler, K., & Hussein, H. (2021). Water nationalism and transboundary water cooperation. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 23(4), 439-452.
26. World Bank. (n.d.). Nigeria — Second National Urban Water Sector Reform Project / National Urban Water Sector Reform Project documents.World Bank project documents and evaluations.

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.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Aliyu, A. & Amadu, L. (2017). Urbanization, cities, and health: The challenges to Nigeria—a review. Annals of African Medicine, 16(4), 149-158. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_56_17
2. Allouche, J. (2020). Nationalism and transboundary water conflicts in the Middle East. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(6), 991-1007.
3. Amaefule, I., Nwankwoala, H., & Abam, T. K. S. (2023). Addressing water scarcity in Nigeria: Implications of human activities and climate change. Environmental Science and Policy, 134, 10-20.
4. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023a). Groundwater quality assessment in urban Nigeria: A focus on Nnewi and Awka. Journal of Water and Health, 21(2), 250-263.
5. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023b). Seasonal variation effects on water quality in Southwestern Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(4), 2345.
6. Ayejoto, O., Egbueri, J. C., & Agbasi, O. E. (2023c). Impact of industrial greenhouse emissions on water quality in Southern Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(1), 1009-1022.
7. Coning, C., & Shrwill, J. (2004). Water governance and South African water policy: A critical review. Water SA, 30(5), 519-530.
8. Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). (n.d.). Engineering regulatory and monitoring. COREN official site.
9. Egbueri, J. C. (2023a). Integrated assessment of groundwater quality in Anambra State, Nigeria. Water Research, 207, 117794.
10. Egbueri, J. C. (2023b). Nitrate health risk assessment in Nigerian communities: A case study in Umunya. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(1), 99-110.
11. Ehinomen, C., & Adjivon, M. T. (2018). Water and sanitation access in Nigeria: A review. Journal of African Studies, 24(3), 345-358.
12. Ewuzie, E., Adegoke, O. & Adeyemi, S. (2021). Environmental impact assessment and water quality in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Management, 305, 114257.
13. Federal Ministry of Water Resources & Sanitation. Mandate and functions. Retrieved from Federal Ministry website.
14. Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1993). Water Resources Act(1993 No.101). FAOLEX PDF.
15. Gürsoy, N. (2024). Water scarcity and farmer-herder conflicts in Northern Nigeria. Conflict and Society, 15(1), 23-39.
16. Hussein, H. (2018). Water scarcity and nationalism: Four dimensions of scarcity. Water International, 43(3), 398-410.
17. Ighalo, J. & Adeniyi, T. (2020). Quality of surface and groundwater systems in Nigeria: A review. Environmental Reviews, 28(4), 397-410.
18. Mehta, L. (2003). Water scarcity and the social construction of water. Journal of Environment & Development, 12(2), 109-123.
19. Ndimele, P. E., & Egbueri, J. C. (2024). Ramsar conservation area of Lake Chad and water scarcity. International Journal of Hydrology, 10(2), 57-66.
20. Omeka, O. . (2024). Groundwater quality assessment using advanced machine learning techniques in Nigeria. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 69(3), 345-356.
21. Pona, T., Ayejoto, O., & Abugu, J. (2021). Population growth and water scarcity in Nigerian urban centers. Water Resource Management, 34(6), 995-1004.
22. Premium Times / Vanguard / Public reporting. (2023). Senate rejects National Water Resources Bill (coverage on legislative outcome).
23. Sultana, F. (2011). Gendering scarcity: The politics of water in Bangladesh. Gender, Place & Culture, 18(4), 481-498.
24. Verma, R. & Ratan, A. (2020). Environmental impact of water pollution: A comparative study of air, water, and land pollution. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 77(1), 44-56.
25. Wheeler, K., & Hussein, H. (2021). Water nationalism and transboundary water cooperation. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 23(4), 439-452.
26. World Bank. (n.d.). Nigeria — Second National Urban Water Sector Reform Project / National Urban Water Sector Reform Project documents.World Bank project documents and evaluations.