By Abdullahi Lukman
Stakeholders across Africa have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other African leaders to prioritise water quality in order to prevent the widespread deaths caused by waterborne diseases.
The appeal was made during the second edition of the International Water Quality Conference held Thursday in Abuja.
The conference brought together experts including Prof. Charles Esimone, former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Dr. Chukwumezie Okolo, President of Rite Place Health and event convener; and Ugandan Member of Parliament Dr. Agnes Atim.
They emphasised that access to water is not enough—its quality must also be ensured to protect public health.
According to UNICEF and World Bank data, waterborne diseases cause approximately 117,000 deaths annually in Nigeria and over 500,000 globally.
Speakers warned that without urgent attention to water quality, Africa’s water crisis will only worsen.
Prof. Esimone stressed that despite infrastructural developments such as new boreholes and treatment plants, water contamination remains a threat due to poor regulation, ageing infrastructure, and inadequate sanitation.
“Access without quality is an illusion,” he said, urging a shift in focus toward long-term solutions that guarantee safe water.
Dr. Okolo echoed these sentiments, proposing greater federal oversight of water quality in states and local governments.
He argued that communities must also be involved in ensuring access to safe water, calling for stronger partnerships between government and civil society.
Dr. Atim highlighted the need for rural engagement, noting that water quality is a cross-continental issue with significant health and economic implications.
“If we engage our communities on quality water, we would save a lot of money,” she said.
The conference, themed “Beyond Access, Quality Matters: Innovative Community-Based Approaches to Waterborne Disease Eradication”, concluded with a shared commitment to push water quality higher on the national and continental agenda.
