Journal Menu
By: Oluwadare Joshua Oyebode and Sunday Apeh.
ABSTRACT
Effective governance and policies play a vital role and essential pathway in the revitalization of water supply and sanitation in Nigeria. Access to safe water and adequate sanitation remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, undermining public health and socio-economic development. This study aims to explore how politics and governance can be harnessed not as barriers but as catalysts for revitalizing Nigeria’s water and sanitation sector. It investigates the role of political institutions, government policies, stakeholder participation, and governance frameworks in promoting sustainable and equitable water service delivery. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the study combines household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis to examine the interplay of political interference, institutional fragmentation, community participation, and financing mechanisms. Challenges facing Nigeria concerning managing its water resources are shortages of water in urban and rural areas. Key recommendations include institutional rationalization and clarity of roles, strengthened autonomous utilities with performance contracts, improved regulatory oversight, sustainable financing (tariff reform + targeted subsidies + blended finance), scalable service models for small towns and peri-urban areas, digitized monitoring and transparency, and explicit climate resilience planning. The paper concludes with an implementation roadmap and measurable indicators for monitoring progress. Mitigation measures, strategic approaches, engineering interventions, wastewater management viable responses of various stakeholders and strengthening of legal aspects will go a long way in assisting water supply and sanitation in Nigeria.
Keywords: Water supply and sanitation, Government policies, Stakeholder participation, Governance frameworks, Legal aspects
Citation:
Refrences:
- Federal Ministry of Water Resources & Sanitation (Nigeria).. Mandate and functions. Retrieved from https://waterresources.gov.ng/.
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (n.d.). National water policy (Nigeria). FAOLEX. Retrieved from https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nig158231.pdf.
- Joint Monitoring Programme (WHO/UNICEF). (2023). Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000–2022: Special focus on WASH in health care facilities. WHO/UNICEF JMP. Retrieved from https://washdata.org/.
- Mustapha, A., et al. (2024). Pathway to equity in water, sanitation, and hygiene in Africa. International Journal / Commentary. PMC.
- Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (NORM) Survey Findings Summary. https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/pdfuploads/2019%20WASH%20NORM%20SURVEY%20FINDINGS%20-%20INFOGRAPHIC%20SUMMARY.pdf
- Regional Revolving Fund for Sanitation. (2018). Microfinance initiatives for sanitation improvements in Nigeria.
- UNICEF Nigeria. (2020). Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping 2019. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/reports/water-sanitation-hygiene-national-outcome-routine-mapping-2019
- (2020). Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH NORM) 2019: A Report of Findings. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/3576/file/WASH%20NORM%20Report%202019.pdf
- Victor, C., et al. (2025). Prevalence and factors associated with water, sanitation and hygiene access in Nigeria. Journal / PMC.
- WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (NORM) Report. (2021). Assessment of sanitation services in Nigerian schools and healthcare facilities.
- Water Governance: Challenges and Prospects for the Nigerian Water Sector. (2019). Policy analysis report.
- World Bank Case Study – Nigeria. (2018). Water supply and sanitation sector reform.
- World Bank Independent Evaluation Group. (2017). Nigeria — National Water Sector Reform Project: IEG evaluation. Retrieved from https://ieg.worldbankgroup.org/reports/nigeria-national-water-sector-reform-project.
- World Bank. (2021). Nigeria: Ensuring Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/05/26/nigeria-ensuring-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-for-all
- World Bank. (2021). Nigeria: National Urban Water Sector Reform Project(Project documents). World Bank. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/798751638456131207/pdf/Nigeria-National-Urban-Water-Sector-Reform-Project.pdf.
- World Bank. (2023). Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership Annual Report. World Bank.
- World Bank. (2025). Nigeria: Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Project (P170734) Program Document. World Bank.