Water Governance: Challenges and Prospects for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal Six in Nigeria

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to review all Nigerian National Water and Sanitation Policies implemented since 1993. The aim is to assess their performance, efficiency, and alignment with the targets set forth in UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). This review provides a contextual understanding of the challenges and opportunities for implementing SDG 6 in Nigeria. We conducted a critical appraisal and qualitative analysis of the 2016 Nigerian National Water Resources Policy, the most recently published policy, in relation to the targets of SDG 6. Our findings indicate that seven out of the eight SDG 6 targets are addressed in the policy. These include safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, pollution reduction, water-use efficiency, trans-boundary cooperation, and protection of water-related ecosystems. However, the policy falls short in involving local communities in water and sanitation management, which is the eighth requirement of SDG 6. Specifically, only 28 states have a dedicated Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), and few local government areas have Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene Departments (WASH) as required by SDG 6. Our assessment of the policy's implementation and practices is based on secondary data sources, notably from the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the National Bureau of Statistics. We argue that by developing effective implementation strategies that involve local communities, the 2016 National Water Resources Policy can significantly contribute to achieving sustainable water and sanitation management for all Nigerians by 2030.