The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to easing the burden on the girl-child by expanding access to safe water and sanitation.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, stated this during a media briefing in Abuja to mark the 2026 World Water Day, themed “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.”
He highlighted that inadequate water access disproportionately affects women and girls, limiting education, exposing them to health risks, and increasing unpaid care responsibilities.
Utsev disclosed that the ministry has constructed and rehabilitated over 6,700 water schemes nationwide, benefiting more than 32 million Nigerians.
Additionally, about 500 projects—including solar-powered boreholes, storage systems, and reticulation networks—have been implemented in underserved communities where women and girls are most affected by water scarcity.
He further emphasized efforts under the Clean Nigeria Campaign, with over 5,200 public sanitation facilities constructed and 162 local councils declared open defecation free.
Utsev urged government agencies, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to intensify collaboration, ensuring that no Nigerian, especially women and girls, is left behind in access to safe water and sanitation.
Experts also highlighted the ongoing challenges.
UNICEF WASH Manager, Chiranjibi Tiwari, called Nigeria’s water crisis a gender crisis, urging gender-sensitive water policies and targeted interventions.
Meanwhile, Dr. David Tola Winjobi of Fairaction Nigeria revealed that over 70% of rural households in Oyo State rely on unsafe water sources, increasing risks of water-borne diseases and poverty due to inadequate infrastructure.
The 2026 United Nations World Water Development Report, presented by UNESCO’s Dr. Enang Moma, reinforced the urgency of addressing water challenges and gender inequality.
According to the report, about 60 million Nigerians still lack safe drinking water, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions such as solar-powered water systems and stronger collaboration between governments, communities, and NGOs.