By Abbas Nazil
Millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with inadequate access to clean and safe water, as economic hardship and poor maintenance culture hinder water supply infrastructure, according to Michael Ale, Co-founder and President of Safe Water for Africa Community Initiative (SWACI).
Ale maintains that clean water, which should be a fundamental human right, has become a privilege available only to the wealthy, while the masses are left to rely on unsafe or expensive alternatives.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Saturday in commemoration of the 2025 World Water Day themed “Glacier Preservation,” Ale called for heavy government investment in the water sector.
He warned that without significant intervention, the lack of safe water could continue to contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, which are already rampant in many communities due to inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
The SWACI helmsman mentioned the rising cost of borehole drilling as a major obstacle to clean water accessibility, noting that drilling a single borehole now costs between N1.5 million and N2.6 million, an amount far beyond the reach of most Nigerians.
He pointed out that public water supply systems are in poor condition, and many government-owned water treatment plants and pipelines have deteriorated, leaving millions without access to potable water.
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According to Ale, even when boreholes are installed, they often fall into disrepair shortly after commissioning due to a lack of proper maintenance.
He stressed that many of these boreholes, donated by the government, philanthropists, or politicians, become non-functional within a short period, forcing communities to seek alternative water sources, which are often contaminated.
To address these challenges, SWACI and its partner organizations have developed solutions to improve water infrastructure and accessibility.
Ale called for collaboration between governments, non-governmental organizations, and private investors to provide both financial and technical support to ensure sustainable water supply.
He urged private borehole owners and investors to embrace innovative solutions such as Borehole Management System Software and Project Outcome Validation Aggregator to enhance the long-term functionality of boreholes and waterworks.
Ale also advised that instead of investing in new boreholes that might eventually become neglected, governments should focus on reviving and maintaining existing water infrastructure.
He further encouraged communities to demand accountability in water resource management and called on well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to assist in providing boreholes to underserved areas, emphasizing that the government alone cannot solve the country’s water crisis.
