Why Are So Many Water Points in Nigeria Non-Functional? An Empirical Analysis of Contributing Factors

Abstract

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

Water Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: Trend, Size, and Purpose

“…The functionality of water schemes has a regional dimension, with projects in the southern region more likely to fail than in the north over 15 years; 51 percent of these failures are due to fixed variables such as political region and hydrogeology [84]. Water schemes sustainability is comparatively better in the north in terms of greater water access.…”

“…Water project failures are a crucial challenge in Nigeria. For example, in the rural water supply sector, functionality and sustainability as concepts are scrutinised due to the preponderance of failed water projects [84,87,108]. The FMWR observed that 116 projects were still uncompleted or ongoing after an average of 15 years since commencement; 38 irrigation and drainage projects, 37 dam projects, and 41 water supply projects [109].…”

“…The FMWR observed that 116 projects were still uncompleted or ongoing after an average of 15 years since commencement; 38 irrigation and drainage projects, 37 dam projects, and 41 water supply projects [109]. An estimated 46 percent of water schemes (water schemes are water supply projects with drinking water as the main water component) are non-functional in Nigeria [84]. The failure of these utilities impacts water access geographically, manifestly in the ruralurban dichotomies and differences [108,110] and at the household level [111].…”

Governance Drivers of Rural Water Sustainability: Collaboration in Frontline Service Delivery

“…The rural water literature has also documented the conditions under which community managed service delivery outcomes are more sustainable. Most studies use correlations to single out variables, or groups of variables, to assess their impact on sustainable community management (Andres et al 2018;Fisher et al 2015;Lockwood and Smits 2011;World Bank 2017a). 6 One set of identified factors (1997) analyzing successful public sector reforms in an otherwise difficult governing condition.…”

“…Yet, despite attempts by development practitioners to improve the sustainability of this method of delivery, the evidence remains mixed. Studies have documented the failure of community-led water points 1 as a critical concern in most parts of the world (Andres et al 2018;Borja Vega et al 2017;Fisher et al 2015;World Bank 2017b). Globally, 30 to 40 percent of community-managed water systems are estimated to be malfunctioning much sooner than their infrastructural life.…”