Over the past decades, there have been various concerted efforts aimed at meeting basic water supply requirements of Nigeria. Despite these initiatives, it is estimated that a considerable percentage of the Nigerian population still lack minimum access to potable drinking water supply, improved sanitation and Hygiene (WSP,2011). For more than half a century, water supply policies have evolved. Table 4.2 shows water supply policy development in Nigeria, and Figure 4.4 illustrates institutional roles and relationships in the Nigeria water sector.
Some policies and key provision are summarised in the Table 4.3. Nigeria is also a signatory to various international conventions and agreements targeted at ensuring increased access and coverage and sustainability of water supplies in Nigeria. (See Box 4.1). However, despite agreed these milestones, institutional policies and conventions the country has not attained universal coverage of water supply. More worrisome is the spate of breakdown and non- functional facilities spread across the country which are a course for serious concern.
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Table 4.2 Key milestone in the Nigerian water sector developments (Source: WSP, 2011)
Figure 4.4: Institutional roles and relationships in the Nigeria water sector (Source: World Bank/WSA, 2011)
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Table 4.3 Summary of relevant water supply policies (Source: Akpabio 2012)
Policy title Key provision
National Policy on Environment, 1989 Focuses on water quality regulation and standard as well as pollution control National Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Policy, 2000
Focuses specifically on rural water and
sanitation through community
participation. The programme targets were to increase water coverage from 43% to 80 % by 2010 and 100% by 2015. The sanitation coverage was to be increased from 32 % to 60 % by 2010 and 90 % by 2015
National Water Resources Management Policy, 2003
Recognizes water as an economic good, opted for integrated and demand-driven services.
National Water and Sanitation Policy, 2004
Operated strictly in line with the demand- driven approach of the National Water Resources Policy
National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP),
2005
Completely touches on a range of issues including solid waste, medical waste, excreta waste, sewage management, food sanitation and hygiene, sanitation at public places, adequate potable water supply, urban drainage management and hygiene education etc.
National Economic Empowerment and Development
Strategy NEEDS (2003-2007)
Addressed water and sanitation issues in clearly defined spatial units namely, urban areas, small towns, rural areas. NEEDS placed high priority on the development of safe and adequate water supply and sanitation services as a key instrument for fighting poverty and
accelerating socio-economic
development National Development Plan (NDP),
2007
One of the seven-point development agenda of the President between 2007 - 2011administration, with targeted subsidies on water and sanitation facilities planned for the poor
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Box 4.1 Human right to water and sanitation
Nigeria has recognized the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation on several occasions. Nigeria voted in favour of General Assembly resolution 64/292 of July 2010 which recognizes the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights. Nigeria co-sponsored Human Rights Council resolution 24/18 of September 2013 and 27/7 of September 2014 and was a member of the Human Rights Council when it adopted without a vote resolution 15/9 of September 2010 and resolution 18/1 of September 2011 and when it co-sponsored resolution 21/2 of September 2012. Nigeria also co-sponsored General Assembly resolution 68/157 of December 2013, adopted without a vote.
Except for the General Assembly resolution 64/292, these resolutions affirm that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living. Nigeria thereby affirmed that the right to an adequate standard of living includes the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The right to an adequate standard of living is enshrined in human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Human Rights Council resolutions 24/18 of September 2013 and 27/7 of September 2014 furthermore contain a full definition of the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. Human Rights Council resolution 27/7 of September 2014 reaffirms in preambular paragraph 21 that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation entitles everyone, without discrimination, to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use and to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy and ensures dignity. Nigeria thereby recognized all the content categories of the right as developed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.
In the Abuja Declaration adopted at the First Africa-South America Summit (ASA) in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2006, Nigeria, along with 64 other African and South American States committed to promote the right of our citizens to have access to clean and safe water and sanitation within our respective jurisdictions. At the 5th World Water Forum in March 2009, Nigeria signed, along with 25 other countries, a declaration recognised that access to water and sanitation is a human right and the country that committed to all necessary actions for the progressive implementation of this right.
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