Take water quality seriously to prevent millions of deaths – Stakeholders task African leaders

Stakeholders in Nigeria and Africa at large have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other African leaders at all levels to take quality of water seriously to prevent millions of people from dying from waterborne and water-related diseases annually.

Professor Charles Esimone, former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University; President of Rite Place Health, Dr. Chukwumezie Okolo; and Dr. Agnes Atim, member of parliament of Uganda, made this call at the second edition of the International Water Quality Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

This comes as UNICEF and World Bank data showed that waterborne diseases cause an estimated 117,000 and 121,800 deaths annually in Nigeria and over 500,000 deaths globally.

Speaking at the conference with the theme ‘Beyond Access, Quality Matters: Innovative Community-Based Approaches to Waterborne Disease Eradication,’ Prof. Esimone said while access to water remains a big challenge in Nigeria and indeed Africa, government at all levels and citizens must pay attention to quality water.

He warned that if Nigeria and Africa fail to pay attention to water quality, the water crisis will deepen.

“Over 500,000 people die annually from diarrheal diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene.

“In Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden. Here in Nigeria, over 60 million people still lack access to clean water, and even in urban areas where access exists, quality is not guaranteed due to ageing infrastructure, contamination, and weak regulation.

“The paradox: We often celebrate new boreholes, new pipes, and new treatment plants. But access without quality is an illusion.

“The challenge is simple: We cannot continue business as usual. If we do, the water crisis will deepen, and our children will pay the price.

“The vision is powerful: Imagine a Nigeria where every village, every town, and every city can drink from the tap without fear. Imagine schools where water is safe, hospitals where water heals, and households where water sustains, not destroys.

“Colleagues, that future is possible. But it requires courage to act, commitment to quality, and collaboration across sectors.

“I call on you all: Let us commit today to make safe, quality water a national priority, a continental priority, and a human priority,” he stated.

Also on his part, Dr. Chukwumezie Okolo, who doubled as conference convener, urged the federal government to take over water in states and local government areas to ensure quality water.

“Before now, the emphasis has been on access to water, providing water to the people.

“But when you look at the statistics, 70-80 percent of the prevalence of disease in Nigeria is waterborne or related diseases.

“What can the government do? The government should provide access to water. Yes, that is one aspect; another is access to quality water.

“The government needs to pay attention to water.

“One of the basic rights Africans have been denied is access to quality water.

“I will suggest that the federal government should be more involved in water instead of leaving it to the subnationals to make quality available.

“This conference is not about what the government can do but what we can do as a community to partner with the government to make quality water available,” he stated.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Agnes Atim said African countries should engage communities more on the quality of water.

“I think we need to appreciate the aspect that water is cross-continent. It is not an Africa, Nigeria, Uganda issue. It is life and all over the world. In Africa, we still have a problem with access, especially within rural areas.

“One reason I am here is to listen to the new dynamics on the quality of water. The quality of water is a serious issue that needs to be discussed and looked at.

“I am thinking that one key priority on rural development should be around the quality of water.

“We put so much into health and waterborne diseases; I am thinking if we engage our communities on quality water, we would save a lot of money,” she stated.

Take water quality seriously to prevent millions of deaths – Stakeholders task African leaders