By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has appealed to development partners for support in scaling up the production and distribution of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) vials used in testing water quality nationwide.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, made the appeal on Wednesday during the quarterly meeting of the National Core Group on Water Quality in Abuja.
She noted that although the vials, which detect bacterial contamination—particularly from faecal matter—had shown promising results in UNICEF-supported states, funding constraints were hampering national rollout.
According to Ugoh, while ministry laboratories have the technical capacity to produce the kits, limited resources meant that in January, only four or five states were covered.
She emphasized the need for strategic partnerships and suggested the ministry’s Public-Private Partnership unit could help mobilize support.
Concerns were also raised about sustainability, as most of the vials currently in use are supplied by UNICEF. A nationwide needs assessment is planned to guide further action.
Other speakers at the meeting highlighted broader water quality issues.
Dr. Bolu Onabolu of the Network of Female Professionals in WASH identified poor sewage management as a contributor to rising nitrate levels in water and recommended revising technical guidelines to ensure safe containment, especially in areas with high water tables.
Onabolu called for better coordination with the National Task Group on Sanitation, improved enforcement from environmental health officers, and a focused public awareness campaign on the risks of groundwater contamination from faecal waste.
Mr. Ibe Chinedu of the FCT Water Board urged that private water producers be included in stakeholder dialogues.
He raised alarms about low pH levels in bottled water—often caused by reverse osmosis without proper remineralisation—and cited risks from illegal pipe connections, consumer practices, and seasonal changes.
Mr. Babalola Emmanuel, Chief Scientific Officer at the ministry, presented data from a national water quality assessment revealing excessive levels of fluoride, ammonia, cyanide, cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, and nitrate—detected at 156 sites across 17 states.
A validation exercise using representative sampling is planned, along with a technical report to guide stakeholder engagement.
In a follow-up interview, Mr. Obinna Ogbodo, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator at WaterAid, stressed that water quality is essential for public health and sustainable development.
He noted that climate change is worsening contamination and access issues, and that WaterAid is working with partners to support climate-resilient WASH infrastructure and improve water safety nationwide.