Small-scale, commercial water providers, coping alternative, water affordability index, Yola-Nigeria

This paper reviewed the operation of the Small Scale Commercial Water Providers (SSCWP) in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, North Central Nigeria. It provide an insight into their contributions, pattern of expenditure on commercial water supply, their operational constraints and possible solutionsand implications of all these issues for sustainable urban development. The methodology employed a household survey and a survey covering the operations of the SSCWP as well as government officials. Results obtained show that 65% of households in Yola presently rely on SSCWP as a coping strategy. The study recommends regulatory oversight to be created through legislation geared towards a water policy that will improve access to portable water base on an all-inclusive approach. This will lead to improvement in public healt