Not a drop to drink : addressing Nigeria’s deepening freshwater crisis

dc.contributor.authorIrene, Julius
dc.contributor.authorIrene, Bridget Nneka
dc.contributor.authorDaniels, Chux
dc.contributor.emailchux.daniels@up.ac.za
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-28T12:17:02Z
dc.date.available2025-08-28T12:17:02Z
dc.date.issued2025-06
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author, J.I.
dc.description.abstractNigeria is currently grappling with an acute freshwater crisis, characterized by a stark contradiction where abundant water resources coexist with a widespread lack of access to safe and reliable water. This study examines the complex interplay of factors driving this crisis. It highlights how climate change and the degradation of critical infrastructure and water management systems have significantly reduced the resilience of freshwater systems. This study draws on survey data to assess public perceptions of water scarcity and its causes, revealing a public consensus on the impacts and challenges of freshwater scarcity. This finding points to the pervasive nature of water insecurity in the surveyed population and suggests that reliable access to freshwater remains elusive for many. The findings emphasize the need for integrated, climate-resilient policies that include ecosystem restoration, infrastructure modernization, pollution control, and inclusive, community-based governance frameworks. Addressing these multifaceted challenges is essential not only for improving freshwater access but also for advancing public health, reducing conflict, and fostering sustainable development. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on water security in the Global South and outlines pathways for transformative water governance in Nigeria.
dc.description.departmentGraduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)
dc.description.librarianhj2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-06: Clean water and sanitation
dc.description.sdgSDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
dc.description.sdgSDG-13: Climate action
dc.description.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/water
dc.identifier.citationIrene, J.; Irene, B.N.; Daniels, C. Not a Drop to Drink: Addressing Nigeria’s Deepening Freshwater Crisis. Water 2025, 17, 1731. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121731.
dc.identifier.issn2073-4441 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3390/w17121731
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/104041
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rights© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.subjectClimate change
dc.subjectFreshwater crisis
dc.subjectPopulation growth
dc.subjectSustainable development growth
dc.titleNot a drop to drink : addressing Nigeria’s deepening freshwater crisis
dc.typeArticle

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