By Abbas Nazil
The federal government has established 12 water quality reference laboratories across Nigeria to enhance water monitoring and surveillance, in a bid to improve access to safe drinking water and mitigating waterborne diseases.
Announcing this initiative at the inaugural Annual Water Quality Conference in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, represented by Permanent Secretary Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, highlighted the critical role of the new laboratories under the National Water Quality Reference Laboratories and Monitoring Network Programme.
The reference labs are expected to improve water quality testing, ensuring that drinking water meets national safety standards.
According to Utsev, unsafe water sources continue to pose significant public health risks, with 25 percent of Nigerians still dependent on unimproved or surface water sources, as reported in the 2021 Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene National Outcomes Routine Monitoring (WASHNORM) Report.
This lack of access to clean water contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrheal infections, which undermine public health and economic productivity.
In addition to the laboratories, the government has launched the Freshwater Restoration and Source Water Protection Programme to safeguard Nigeria’s water bodies, including rivers, lakes, and artificial reservoirs.
Related Posts
This initiative aims to address growing concerns over water contamination from open defecation, improper waste disposal, and industrial pollutants.
Utsev reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating open defecation, implementing improved water and sanitation standards, and leveraging modern technology for better water management.
Efforts to strengthen water quality assurance include the establishment of the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality, the Nigerian Standards for Ambient Water Quality, and the soon-to-be-finalized Nigerian Standard for Irrigation Water Quality.
Furthermore, the Community Water Safety Plan has been introduced to empower rural communities with the knowledge and tools to prevent water contamination.
The production of hydrogen sulfide vials for microbial water quality assessment, currently being tested in UNICEF-supported states, is another step toward ensuring safer drinking water.
UNICEF WASH Manager Mr. Chiranjibi Tiwari warned that two-thirds of Nigeria’s water sources are contaminated with E. coli and Salmonella, exacerbating disease outbreaks.
He called for urgent and coordinated action to improve water safety, stressing that failure to act could hinder national progress. Similarly, UNESCO’s Dr. Enang Moma emphasized the dangers of untreated wastewater and industrial pollutants, warning that by 2030, 4.8 billion people could face health risks if water monitoring and pollution control measures are not enhanced.
