The human right to clean water and sanitation – a perspective from Nigeria

Abstract

The human right to clean water and sanitation has currently become a global issue. From Brazil to Sudan, Tibet to Turkana, water for living has gradually become a consistent discourse. There is indeed a perception shared by many scholars and international bodies that access to safe, clean or wholesome water has attained the status of a fundamental human right. The rationale behind most of this critical mass of opinion is that water is an essential need for life. Take away water and life is an empty shell. Without clean and wholesome water for drinking and sanitation, the other rights which are hinged on life become meaningless. This perception reached a crescendo in the year 2010, when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 64/292, clearly recognizing the human right to water and sanitation. The Resolution also acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights. However, despite this there appears to be a huge gap between this global perception and the reality of access to clean water and sanitation as a human right today. Like all other environmental and human right concerns of mankind, the actualization of this premium right lies majorly at the local level. Thus while having an eye on the global scene, there is an essential need to act locally. This explains our present attempt herein to explore the concept of a human right to clean water and sanitation using Nigeria as the prism. The work is therefore aimed at ascertaining the extent of recognition, enforcement and availability of the human right to clean water and sanitation in Nigeria. Ultimately it is recommend that critical social engagement, active citizenship participation, legislative intervention and corporate social responsibility are possible measures to solve the problem. It is also hoped that a careful study of the Nigerian situation would help in the formulation of a human right to clean water and sanitation policy template. It is further hoped that this will in the end assist the realization of the purport and essence of the United Nations resolution on the human right to clean water and sanitation.