Abstract
Nigeria has abundant water resources. This natural endowment is evident in the yearly rainfall and large surface bodies of water-rivers, streams as well as abundant reservoirs of underground water. However, because of lack of good developmental policy, the rational use of the water resources still poses problems and challenges in most states of the country. For some time now these water problems have been left with the River Basin development authorities with little success, primarily because of lack of good management and best practices, despite huge sum of money spent. Although there are surplus surface and underground water resources within the Anambra basin, basic water supply for domestic and industrial use have been in very short supply for the teeming 5 million population despite the fact that government through international programmes like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UNICEF, EU has done a lot to aid water supply. This paper is timely because of a recent introduction of a major regional water supply project earmarked to take off in Onitsha, the industrial and commercial hub of Anambra. It is expected that the quantity and quality of water would improve with this project to be financed by the government in urban areas of Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi. Published as well as unpublished secondary sources were used to present the access to drinking water in Anambra State. Reform efforts are currently going on in the state and a review of the reform reveals the effects of political and economic challenges on the existing strategies. Key words: Urban water, water reforms, sustainability, sectors
Highlights
Nigeria has not been able to guarantee the most important need of safe drinking water for its citizens and small population of industries
Evaluation of the effects of private sectors participation (PSP) on urban water supplies has been constrained by the overall poor quality of data available and the small number of cases from which to draw conclusions
The experience of other countries suggests that PSP in the urban water sector may or may not, improve efficiency and provide better service to the poor
Summary
Nigeria has not been able to guarantee the most important need of safe drinking water for its citizens and small population of industries. The local government headquarters of Nnewi, Awka, Ekwuluobia, Ihiala, Ogidi, Abagana and Onitsha have been without sufficient domestic and industrial water for the past forty years since after the Nigeria Civil war. Major sources of water were rivers and stream for the first twenty years while the development of private water for individual homes and industries by the private sector, local governments and international agencies have. The problem of raising the level of drinking water from low to medium term and in cost effective ways is imperative in the state. The objective of the paper is to assess the ongoing water sector reform in Anambra State of Nigeria, to determine the key barriers to more effective reform for urban water provision with respect to water quality and water sector efficiency. Ongoing attempts by government including those of private sectors, to reform the water sector and other necessary recommendations are included in this review
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