Decades of water resources research works in Nigeria: What has changed?

Several studies have been conducted to understand the quantity and quality of water resources in Nigeria. These studies, spanning several decades, conducted in different locations in Nigeria looked at various potable water sources and the effects of anthropogenic activities on the water quality. Despite the findings of these research works, millions of people in Nigeria still lack access to clean water. Reflecting on this has resulted in many questions. What have we learned from the previous studies related to the provision of potable water in Nigeria and how has that influenced our current understanding, policies, decisions and use of available water sources? Has there been any change and what is the hope for securing adequate potable water sources? What steps are being taken to ensure equal distribution of good quality water? We examined the findings of some previous studies: Sustainable groundwater exploitation in Nigeria (2013), Nigeria’s legal instruments for land and water use: implications for national development (2015); Public feedback on state of domestic water supply in Lagos: implications for public health (2016); A wake up call: Nigeria water supply, sanitation, and hygiene poverty diagnostic (2017) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH NORM, 2019). Scrutinizing these five previous studies and other recent ongoing studies will bring to fore how far Nigeria has gone towards achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of clean water by 2030