The World Bank Group has revealed that poor sanitation costs Nigeria ₦455 billion annually, equivalent to $3 billion.
The disclosure was made by the Bank’s Senior Irrigation and Drainage Specialist, Dr. Wilfred Hundertmark, during the opening of the technical session of the 31st Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation (NCWR&S) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Dr. Hundertmark presented a draft proposal titled “Water Security Strategic Framework for Nigeria 2026–2040”, emphasizing the critical need for improved water and sanitation infrastructure.
Economic Impact of Poor Sanitation: Poor sanitation costs Nigeria ₦455 billion annually, equivalent to $20 per person or 1.3% of the national GDP.
Nigeria experienced unprecedented flooding in 2012 and 2022, with the 2022 floods costing $6.681 billion.
Additionally, 23% of water facilities fail within their first year of operation (WASHNORM 2022).
Food Security Concerns:
Approximately 79% of Nigerian farmers were affected by drought and flooding in 2020 (SBMIntel).
Food imports have quadrupled over recent decades, reaching $4.57 billion in 2016.
Less than 2% of agricultural farmland is irrigated.
Dr. Hundertmark outlined a vision for water security, describing it as an economic outcome of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and resilient water systems tailored to local conditions. Key components include:
Professionally managed water systems designed for essential water services.
Adequate institutional arrangements with responsibilities shared across federal, state, and local levels.
Investments in advanced water storage, resilient management systems, and robust institutions to address climate-related risks and environmental degradation.
Benefits of Effective Water Management: Improved public health and well-being, Enhanced irrigation and stabilized food supply, Better electricity supply security, Protection against climate-related risks and Funding and Investment:
Dr. Hundertmark stressed the need for transparent and accessible funding mechanisms to support investments in water infrastructure, ensuring Nigeria achieves sustainable water security.
The session highlights the urgent need for collaboration among stakeholders to address the challenges of water security, food insecurity, and the economic burden of poor sanitation.
