Private Sector Exclusion Worsens Nigeria's Water Crisis

Nichola Igw, a member of the Presidential Committee, addressed the ongoing water and sanitation crisis in Nigeria during a media briefing in Abuja. He attributed the persistent issues to the exclusion of the private sector, stating that the sector remains heavily dependent on donor agencies and civil society organizations.

Igw argued that the government has failed to create an institutional framework necessary to attract private capital. He identified six major barriers discouraging private investment in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector, including revenue uncertainty, poor risk allocation, and political interference.

Igw noted that the global sustainable development goal for water and sanitation requires $114 billion annually, with Nigeria's sanitation economy projected to be worth $26 billion by 2030. Despite this potential, private investment remains negligible.

He called for regulatory reforms similar to those in the telecommunications and energy sectors to encourage private sector participation and improve service delivery.