By Aliu Akoshile
Monday, March 24, was marked globally as World Water Day. It was a day designated by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of universal access to clean drinking water as a fundamental human right. The day also drew attention to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure ‘clean water and sanitation for all.” The global theme for this year’s World Water Day, “Glaciers Preservation,” is apt, as 70% of the Earth’s freshwater exists as snow or ice.
However, while over two billion people worldwide rely on water from glaciers for drinking, agriculture, and energy production, glaciers have lost over 600 gigatons of water, the largest mass loss in 50 years, as of 2023. So, for Africans, World Water Day is a stark reminder of the continent’s lingering water crisis and its impact on nearly 1.4 billion people.
The reality of Africa’s water crisis is alarming. For instance, an estimated 411 million people lack access to basic clean water, with 340 million living in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural communities are even worse off, as 55% of the population lacked access to basic drinking water sources. In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, over 60 million people lack access to clean water sources, while 130 million rely on contaminated water.
Water-borne diseases, preventable loss of lives, malnutrition, and stunting of economic productivity are some of the dire consequences. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Nigeria loses approximately N500 billion (about $1.4 billion) annually due to poor sanitation and hygiene. Similarly, sub-Saharan Africa loses about $170 billion or 5% of its gross domestic product annually due to poor water infrastructure.
Invariably, the challenges posed by inadequate access to clean drinking water are complex and far-reaching. Diarrhoea, caused by poor sanitation and hygiene, kills over 70,000 children under the age of five in Nigeria each year, according to UNICEF. Malnutrition, which stunts cognitive development, educational attainment, and economic productivity, also afflicts millions of children.
Improving access to clean water and sanitation in Africa could yield significant economic benefits, estimated at up to $28.4 billion annually, according to the World Bank. However, food insecurity remains a major concern, as inadequate access to clean water for irrigation purposes undermines agricultural productivity, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture accounts for about 70% of the workforce.
Climate change exacerbates the situation, reducing the availability of clean water. This is evident in irregular precipitation patterns and increased evaporation due to global warming, which reduces the availability of clean water. Environmental degradation and conflicts, especially between herders and farmers, are exacerbated by scarcity of, or inadequate access to, clean water.
To effectively address the crisis, African governments must take urgent actions, such as prioritising water infrastructure development, investing in sustainable projects, and promoting innovative solutions. Community engagement and education are also crucial in raising awareness about water conservation and proper hygiene practices.
No doubt, Africa’s struggle to provide portable water for its citizens is a complex issue with multiple factors at play. Lack of investment in water infrastructure, privatisation, and commercialization of water, climate change, poor governance, and pervasive corruption all contribute to the lingering problem. Therefore, addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that involves investing in water infrastructure, promoting good governance and transparency, and tackling the impacts of climate change.
For years, African Development Bank (AfDB) has been at the forefront of efforts to address Africa’s water crisis. Under the leadership of the bank’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB has placed water security and climate resilience at the centre of its ten-year corporate strategy. The bank aims to mobilize up to $8 billion for climate-focused initiatives and is already investing approximately $2.8 billion annually to build resilience.
The AfDB’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) aims to improve access to water and sanitation in rural areas, while the African Water Facility (AWF) provides financial and technical support to African countries to improve water governance and increase access to water and sanitation.
The bank’s efforts are yielding remarkable results, with hundreds of millions of people across Africa gaining access to clean water for sustainable livelihoods since 2015. However, African countries must prioritize investing in water infrastructure, promoting innovative solutions, and ensuring community engagement.
The future of African economies and people depends on it. African leaders must quench the thirst of their nations and ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for the continent. The cost of inaction is too high to bear for millions of Africa’s dried throats. Nigeria and the rest of African countries must act now to sustain the focus on safe drinking water access for all.
_Akoshile, editor-in-chief of NatureNews.Africa, wrote from Abuja_