A Development and Water Resources expert, Michael Ale, says the lack of accessibility to clean and safe water by many homes is due to lack of maintenance culture.
He blamed the challenge on relevant authorities and the current economic hardship facing citizens.
According to him, these have been making it difficult for the middle-class Nigerians to afford the luxury of safe and clean water, as cost of digging boreholes remains on the high side.
Ale, who is also the Co-founder and President, Safe Water for Africa Community Initiative (SWACI) made this known in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital to mark this year’s World Water Day.
While highlighting numerous challenges, facing some Nigerians in accessing clean and safe water, he recommended urgent massive investment in the water sector by government, as the way forward to the problem.
“As the world commemorates World Water Day, the harsh reality for millions of Nigerians, comes to the forefront; clean and safe water remains a privilege, accessible only to the wealthy, while the poor, continue to struggle with inadequate access to this fundamental human right.
“One of the primary obstacles is the exorbitant cost of drilling boreholes, which in many communities is the only reliable source of clean water.
“The cost of drilling a borehole, currently ranges between ₦1.5 million and ₦2.6 million, a sum, far beyond the means of many Nigerians, living in poverty.
“Another critical issue is the frequent breakdown of borehole infrastructure. Many community boreholes, often donated by government, groups, philanthropists, or politicians, become non-functional, shortly after commissioning, due to poor maintenance,” he said.
He noted that besides, government-owned water treatment plants and pipelines, were in a state of disrepair, forcing millions, to rely on expensive or contaminated water sources.
This, according to him, has led to the rampant spread of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and diarrhea, which were clear indicators of developmental stagnation, due to inadequate ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) facilities.
The SWACI president, also emphasised the need for innovative and sustainable approaches to water management.
According to him, one of such initiatives is the Borehole Management System Software (BAMS) a digital platform, designed to help borehole operators manage their water sources more efficiently, reduce operational costs and improve access to clean water.
“Governments should focus on reviving and maintaining existing boreholes, rather than investing in new ones that might also become neglected,” Ale stated.
He further revealed that SWACI, in collaboration with other organisations, had developed solutions, to address these infrastructural challenges and improve water accessibility in Nigeria.
“The introduction of BAMS, along with other innovative solutions, like the Project Outcome Validation Aggregator (POVA) requires robust support from private investors, government bodies, NGOs, volunteers and water associations.
“These stakeholders must step up efforts to ensure efficient water management, particularly in underserved communities,” Ale added.
He also spoke on the role of government agencies and NGOs as crucial, in resolving Nigeria’s water crisis.
According to him, there is the need for a collaboration, to provide financial and technical support to communities and borehole operators, in a bid to guarantee sustainable supply of clean water.
Ale, who is also the chairman of Male Integrated Science, a renown borehole drilling company, also used the opportunity to commend group effort like the Ibadan Descendant Union in Texas, U.S., for their sustainable approach, toward solving perennial community water issues.
The water expert noted that through the Water Root Connect program, about 22 solar powered boreholes had been constructed within Ibadan community.
NAN
