800,000 deaths recorded yearly – Experts raise alarm over water quality crisis in Nigeria
Experts and stakeholders within Nigerian health and other critical sectors have called on the Nigerian government to act quickly to avert a quality of water crisis from ravaging the country.
This call was made at the just-concluded second edition of the International Water Quality Conference in Abuja.
On his part, Convener and President of Rite Place Health, Dr. Chukwumezie Okolo, said 70 to 80 percent of diseases in the country are waterborne, calling for improved access to quality water.
“We cannot afford complacency, our national standards must be updated, enforced, and aligned with global best practice.”
Also, Deputy Director at the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Nkechi Ezeudu, described the situation as both a crisis and an opportunity.
“Over 800,000 people, many of them children, die every year from preventable waterborne diseases. Water connects us all. Its protection is urgent and essential,” she said, urging governments to integrate water quality into planning and budgeting.
“Industries must adopt cleaner practices, and communities must take ownership of safeguarding local water sources.”
Earlier, a pharmacist, Beatrice Obiageli Mbah of Rite Place Health, warned that water quality directly impacts hospital admissions.
“Up to 80 percent of diseases treated in Nigerian hospitals are linked to unsafe water. If we fix water, we will drastically reduce our disease burden and save billions in healthcare costs,” she said.
Similarly, Emmanuel Ochia of Certified Systems highlighted the role of innovation in curbing waterborne diseases and the quality of the water crisis.
“Advanced monitoring systems now make it possible to track water quality in real time. If we invest in this technology, we can detect contamination early and protect millions from exposure,” he explained.
