Nigeria Launches Quality Water Advocacy Campaign to Address N455bn Annual Loss from Poor Sanitation
By Patience Ikpeme
In a decisive move to confront Nigeria’s pressing water quality crisis, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, in partnership with Nestlé Nigeria Plc, has unveiled the Quality Water Advocacy Campaign.
This initiative focuses on raising awareness, educating the public, and fostering collaboration to tackle the widespread challenges linked to poor water quality and sanitation in the country.
Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, highlighted the alarming scale of the problem during her welcome address.
Drawing on research from the 2024 CAPPA study, she revealed that over 113 million Nigerians still lack access to safe drinking water. This deprivation results in approximately 87,000 children under five dying each year from diarrhea related to unsafe water and poor hygiene, along with more than 70,000 deaths annually from other waterborne diseases.
Uwadoka stressed the heavy economic toll of poor sanitation, estimating the annual loss to Nigeria at N455 billion—funds that, if redirected, could significantly improve the lives of families and reinforce national institutions. “Water quality goes beyond technical or policy issues,” she said. “It touches on basic human needs, dignity, and sustainable development for millions of Nigerians.”
She urged all stakeholders—including government agencies, businesses, media, academia, civil society, and citizens—to actively participate in closing the knowledge gap surrounding water safety.
Echoing these concerns, Engineer Professor Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, lauded Nestlé Nigeria’s leadership in complementing government efforts to achieve universal access to safe water. “Water is life,” he affirmed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of water quality, public health, environmental sustainability, and national development.
Referencing the 2021 National Water Report, Minister Utsev noted ongoing contamination challenges at points of drinking water consumption that endanger Nigerians’ health and productivity.
In response, the Ministry has launched innovative programs such as the Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and established a network of 12 Water Quality Reference Laboratories across the country. Additional efforts include Fresh Water Restoration, Source Water Protection initiatives, and advancing water quality standards aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The campaign itself is structured as a multi-phased, multi-sectoral effort. In collaboration with OPS-WASH and ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Health and Social Welfare, Environment, and Water Resources and Sanitation, Nestlé Nigeria is spearheading activities that range from stakeholder engagement and media outreach to grassroots community mobilization. This comprehensive approach aims to equip Nigerians with critical knowledge and tools to improve water quality within their households and communities.
Minister Utsev emphasized the need for intensified collaboration across all sectors, calling for increased investment in water quality monitoring, enforcement of standards, enhanced public awareness, and strengthened community capacity to protect water resources. He described the advocacy campaign as a shared responsibility and urged stakeholders to translate their commitment into concrete actions to shield Nigerian children from the devastating effects of waterborne diseases.
Victoria Uwadoka reaffirmed Nestlé Nigeria’s commitment to leading the campaign as a flagship corporate social responsibility initiative aligned with national development priorities. Both leaders expressed optimism that the campaign would accelerate Nigeria’s progress toward safe, reliable, and sustainable water access for all citizens—recognizing this not just as a development goal, but as a fundamental human right.
Their partnership marks a promising new chapter in Nigeria’s battle against unsafe water, signaling hope that through education, advocacy, and multisector cooperation, millions of Nigerians will soon enjoy the health, dignity, and prosperity that access to quality water ensures.
