Millions of Nigerian households lack access to clean, piped water despite state governments allocating billions of naira to water infrastructure over the years. In Kano State, daily water demand stands at about 700 million litres, but supply falls far short due to aging systems and inactive treatment plants. Only a few of the state's 22 treatment facilities are operational, including the 95-year-old Challawa plant, recently reactivated. The state allocated N40.2 billion to the water sector in its 2026 budget, though details of the spending remain unclear.
Residents in areas like Hotoro, Nassarawa Local Government Area, have gone without public water supply for up to 15 years. Musbahu Sani, a resident, said his neighbourhood relies on solar-powered boreholes, while the NNPC Depot side of Hotoro receives water from the Tamburawa plant. Ado Fela, from Gama, spends an average of N1,200 daily buying water from vendors. A 2022 World Bank report shows 70 million Nigerians lack basic drinking water, and UNICEF states 70% of water is contaminated at point of consumption. Between 2020 and 2024, 4,778 cholera deaths were recorded, with over 300 more by October 2025.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said water sector investments aim to tackle scarcity and expand rural access. In Borno, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum approved the rehabilitation of boreholes and construction of 50 new ones in Maiduguri, yet only some areas are connected to the treatment plant.
The fact that Kano's 95-year-old Challawa plant is still in operation exposes how little meaningful investment has been made in modern water infrastructure. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's N40.2 billion allocation for water in 2026 rings hollow when residents like Musbahu Sani have waited 15 years without a drop from public supply. This isn't just a failure of maintenance — it's a pattern of spending without delivery that keeps millions dependent on costly, unsafe alternatives. For Nigerians, each new budget line for water feels less like progress and more like recycled promise.
