Analysis of Access to Improved Drinking Water Sources in Nigeria

Credit: Solen Feyissa

Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right and essential for the survival of individuals and communities. In Nigeria, as per the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021, 75.9% of the household population has access to improved drinking water sources. Improved drinking water sources include piped water, boreholes, protected wells, and rainwater harvesting.

The percentage of the household population using improved drinking water sources varies significantly between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, 94.8% of the population has access to improved drinking water sources, while only 61.8% of the population in rural areas has access to such sources. This shows that the urban population in Nigeria has better access to clean drinking water than the rural population.

The wealth index quintile also plays a significant role in determining access to improved drinking water sources in Nigeria. The percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources increases with the increase in wealth quintile. The poorest quintile has the lowest percentage of the population (41.4%) using improved drinking water sources, while the richest quintile has the highest percentage (99%). The percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources is 62.7%, 82.4%, and 93.9% for the second, middle, and fourth quintiles, respectively.

Access to improved drinking water sources varies significantly across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, as per the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021. The North Central zone has a relatively high percentage (69.4%) of the population using improved drinking water sources. The North West zone also has a similar percentage (70%) of the population using improved drinking water sources. However, the North East zone has a lower percentage (60.6%) of the population using improved drinking water sources.

The Southern zones of Nigeria have a higher percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources compared to the Northern zones. The South East zone has the highest percentage (92.9%) of the population using improved drinking water sources. The South West zone has the second-highest percentage (88.8%) of the population using improved drinking water sources, while the South-South zone has a slightly lower percentage (79%) of the population using improved drinking water sources.

The access to improved drinking water sources varies significantly across the Nigerian states, as per the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021. The data shows that Lagos state has the highest percentage (99.4%) of the population using improved drinking water sources, followed by Anambra (97.2%), Edo (95.2%), and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (94.7%). On the other hand, Taraba state has the lowest percentage (32.4%) of the population using improved drinking water sources, followed by Sokoto (38.6%), Plateau (53.4%), and Cross River (53.7%).

In conclusion, the MICS 2021 survey shows that while a significant proportion of the Nigerian population has access to improved drinking water sources, there is still a significant disparity between urban and rural areas and across wealth quintiles. Therefore, efforts should be made to ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of their location or economic status, have access to clean drinking water. This can be achieved through increased investment in water infrastructure, improving water governance, and increasing public awareness of the importance of clean drinking water.

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