POOR DRINKING WATER IN NIGERIA

Nigerians lack access to improved improved drinking water, i never took the issue of water seriously until last week when pure(poor) water was out of sale in my environment OAU Ife in Osun state. Although Obafemi Awolowo University as a considerable improved drinking water system, students still prefer pure water and bottled water to that which is being supplied by the schools dam. Why the students in the University could still breathe a sigh of relief because they had an option in the absence of pure water, the same could not be said of their counter part in Ife Osun state.

This happening made me realize that the Government as neglected its duties in the provision of improved drinking water and that the citizenry now patronize pure water all in a vain to get access to improved drinking water. Although I believe that most pure waters are not pure, yet the fact that they are available and accessible as made a lot of Nigerians forget the fact that they have a right to quality water.

Water is essential for the survival of man, and if the issue of improved drinking water is not addressed the citizens are left to be faced by several disease which arises as a result of this.
 

More worrisome now is the fact that "pure water" which use to be affordable and accessible is no longer affordable. The price of pure water ranges from places to places in Nigeria. Pure water which use to be N5 is now N10 in most areas. In a country where more than 92% of its population live below poverty line and survive on less than $1 per day.

While I do not believe that a return of pure water to its initial price price would improve our lot, i can not also shy away from the fact that pure remains the average mans avenue to get access to good drinking water. I would greatly appreciate if someone out there can enlighten me on why pure water is now N10. Also, I believe that the government should endeavour to provide good drinking water for the citizenry, provision of good drinking water should not be limited to the urban areas alone it should touch the rural communities as well.

Below is a report by WHO

The World Health Organisation/United Nations Children’s Fund Joint Monitoring Program, in its 2012 progress report on drinking water and sanitation, has ranked Nigeria third behind China and India on the list of countries with the largest population without access to improved drinking water.

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program report which covered between 1990 and the end of 2010, noted that about 66 million Nigerians lacked access to drinking water, while 34 million, about 20 per cent of the country’s population practised open defecation.

The other countries with large populations lacking access to potable water include China with 119 million, India — 97 million, Ethiopia — 46 million and Sudan — 18 million.

The above simply buttresses the point that Nigerians do not have access to good drinking water, in your opinion what do you think can be done to solve this problem of lack of good drinking water, considering the Nigerian population and the present realities in the areas of of good drinking water.

Your opinion counts greatly, kindly leave a comment behind, share your view.... Thanks