Sir: A 2019 World Bank report on global water quality described polluted water as, ‘‘the invisible water crisis’’ that drastically reduces gross domestic product (GDP) in many countries. ‘‘Clean water is key factor for economic growth; deteriorating water quality is stalling economic growth, worsening health conditions, reducing food production, and exacerbating poverty in many countries,’’ wrote the World Bank Group President David Malpass.

The World Water Day (WWD) is held on March 22nd every year since 1993 by the United Nations (UN) to highlight the importance of fresh water.  This year’s WWD was focused on the theme ‘‘Water for Peace and Sustainable Management of its Resources.’’ The UN affirmed that ‘‘When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges: It is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life.’’

For years, the Nigerian government has been marking the WWD with the rest of the world but pay lip service to water resource management in the country. The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) observed on WWD 2024 that about 133 million Nigerians lacked access to potable water, water that is treated for bacteria, toxic chemicals, viruses and fecal matter.

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation revealed that no fewer than 41 per cent of Nigeria’s public water supply is contaminated with faeces. Yet Nigeria has significant total water resources reportedly estimated at 215 billion m’3(cubic kilometers) of surface water and 87 billion m’3  ground water resources. Lack of accessible, reliable and safe drinking water, together with poor sanitation and hygiene, is estimated to cost Nigeria about $1.3 billion in access time, loss due to premature death, productive time lost and health care costs.

It is clear that the nation is suffering from ‘‘economic water scarcity’’ – the inability to properly manage, use and protect water resources for socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Experts attribute this to the country’s ‘‘control and command’’ approach to water resources management which focuses on the engineering physical infrastructure without engaging the people that would use it. This is why water infrastructure in communities tends to collapse as the people were not involved in the planning or running it.

Pollution is one major cause of water scarcity in the country. Wastes are regularly dumped in rivers and streams across the land, while storm water in cities carries pollutants which contaminate water resources. Pollution by oil exploration in the Niger Delta has led to declining fish harvests and loss of biodiversity, deeply affecting the poor. Shell’s oil-exploitation in the region has been leaving historical oil pollution that has been destroying the Niger Delta eco-system and livelihood of the population since the 1950s.

After years of pushing for justice through the Nigerian judicial system, some local communities have turned their attention to courts in the United Kingdom (UK). Now Shell is trying to divest from Niger Delta and selling to a complex maze of investors, some of which are reportedly unstable and face financial difficulties. Oil experts are warning that Shell’s divestment from the on-shore oil industry must be halted until it takes responsibility for its toxic legacy of pollution and the safe decommissioning of its dilapidated and abandoned oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta. Not safely decommissioning their old infrastructure, according to experts, is a ‘‘ticking time bomb’’ that would worsen the Delta environmental decay in the years ahead.

Heavy industries and mining in Nigeria and other African countries use much water for their industrial projects, many of which are financed by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with no one connected to protecting our water resources from pollution. These industries use water for separating minerals, cooling machinery and controlling dust. Waste from mining and processing, including residual minerals and chemicals also contaminate bodies of water in nearby communities.

The western world is using African water resources in mining, and in oil and gas exploitation without thinking about water pollution. An integrated approach is now needed to effectively combat water pollution and sustainable development in the country, and African governments should strengthen environmental legislation. Given that most Western firms have already caused much damage to the African environment, the West should invest in modern waste water treatment infrastructure and environmentally friendly technologies in Nigeria and other African countries, than investing in conflicts like in Ukraine.

Only this approach can help Nigeria and others achieve significant success in preserving its precious water resources for future generations,  especially now the World Bank has predicted  that by ‘‘2030, global fresh water demand is expected to outstrip supply by 40 per cent, and an estimated 1.6 billion people will lack safely managed drinking water.
George Mbah wrote from Lagos.