Underfunded Rural Water and Sanitation Agencies Worsen Cholera Crisis Across Nigerian States
By Okafor Joseph Afam
October 10, 2024
As Nigeria faces a persistent cholera outbreak, underfunded rural water and sanitation agencies across the country are exacerbating the crisis. A review of state budget performance documents reveals that many states are failing to adequately finance these essential agencies, leaving rural communities vulnerable to the spread of cholera, a waterborne disease primarily driven by poor water quality and inadequate sanitation.
The Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, for instance, plays a crucial role in establishing, managing, and developing water infrastructure in the state’s rural areas. Despite this, Borno State, like many others, has fallen short of its financial commitments. Data shows that in the first half of 2024, Borno’s agency was allocated N3 billion but spent only N254.3 million.
Cholera, which thrives in environments where water and sanitation are neglected, has already claimed 359 lives out of 10,837 suspected cases this year, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The hardest-hit states include Lagos with 134 cases, Jigawa with 52, and Kano with 46, while Oyo, Bauchi, and others have reported smaller but still concerning numbers.
A deeper look into state budget documents reveals similar underfunding patterns in other regions:
- Kwara State: Budgeted N6.6 million for its rural water and sanitation agency but only spent N1.2 million in the first six months.
- Bauchi State: Allocated N3.4 billion but only spent N41.9 million in the first half of the year.
- Katsina State: Budgeted N52.6 million, with N24.4 million spent.
- Ondo State: Budgeted N1.418 billion but spent just N137.7 million.
- Oyo State: Budgeted N127.1 million, with only N3.518 million spent.
- Kano State: Allocated N1.992 billion, but only N87.2 million was used.
- Kogi State: Budgeted N28.2 million, spending just N2.6 million.
This lack of funding not only hinders efforts to contain the cholera outbreak but also limits access to essential sanitary facilities and clean water. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, many households remain deprived of these basic services. In states like Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Oyo, between 65% and 87% of households lack proper sanitation. Access to clean drinking water is similarly scarce, with over 70% of households in states such as Cross River, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba lacking access.
Without increased financial support for rural water and sanitation agencies, Nigeria’s efforts to control the cholera outbreak and improve public health infrastructure will remain insufficient. Addressing these challenges requires urgent attention to both budgeting and the actual disbursement of funds to safeguard the health of millions living in vulnerable rural areas.
