Most residents of Taraba, Kebbi, and Sokoto States lack access to safe drinking water, as these states rank worst in the provision of quality water to their people, according to the Nigerian Open Data Portal (ODP).
The ODP, in a report sanctioned by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), disclosed that millions of people in Northern Nigeria lack access to clean and safe drinking water.
The report shows that the situation is worse in Taraba, Sokoto and Kebbi as they host the lowest percentages of people using improved sources of drinking water.
According to the report, only 23.5% Taraba residents, 26.8% in Kebbi, 28.8% in Sokoto; 28.8%, and 31.9% of Kaduna residents have access to improved water supply for their consumption which reveals that less than one-third of the population have access to improved drinking water sources like boreholes, protected wells, or piped water systems.Â
WikkiTimes reports recently that some of the states also have highest child mortality rates in the country, raising questions over government’s ability to provide basic needs to the people such as water and healthcare.
In contrast, 69.9% of Jigawa residents, 65.5% in Kano, 67.9% in Kwara 67.9, and 65.5% of the FCT residents can boast of having access to improved drinking water.
Despite years of promises and repeated budgetary allocations, access to clean water in remains elusive to many people particularly rural communities across Nigeria.
Waterborne diseases, long treks to contaminated streams, and reliance on unprotected sources are part of daily life for millions in the country.
WikkiTimes earlier reported how some communities in Toro LGA of Bauchi State share the same source of water with reptiles and other dangerous animals.
The medium also reports that a community at Jirr, about 20 kilometers away from the Bauchi State Governor’s seat drink contaminated water from the pits excavated by illegal miners in the area.
