Incorporating Productive Uses into
Urban Water Systems in Nigeria
An Exploratory Study
In two Nigerian cities
By
Joachim Ibeziako Ezeji
WEDC, May 2006.
Aim of Study:
• To assess the possibility of incorporating productive uses
into urban water system designs in Nigeria.
• To assist to inform the design of reforms in the Nigerian
water sector.
• To assist governments and donors grapple with the
problems of poverty in Nigeria, because an
understanding of how the poor respond to economic
crisis has become increasingly important. This
understanding can help ensure that interventions aimed
at reducing poverty complement and strengthen people’s
own inventive solutions rather than block them. ( Moser,
1996:1).
The Objectives:
• 1) To explore how households can benefit from
water dependent productive activities.
• 2) To assess efficiency and equity in water
supply and use, through appropriate demand
management and conservation strategies.
• 3) To identify appropriate and affordable water
catchments and delivery technologies germane
for productive use.
• 4) To assess existing supply interventions and
establish links with gender and poverty.
Country Profile
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Population:130.2million (UN,2005)
Capital: Abuja
Administrative Structure:36 states
Area:923,768sq.km
Urban Population:50%(at a growth rate of
5.5% per annum)
• Poverty level: Between 54.4% and 70%
Country Profile (contd)
Water Resources Endowment
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Surface Water : 268 billion m3
Groundwater:52 billion m3
Major rivers: 24
Large lake:1
Natural Springs: Several
Rainfall: about 180-225cm (in the South)
And 100-150cm in the North.
Urban Nigeria in brief
Case Study:1
Living on water.
• At least, 65 workers of Nigeria's premier cement factory, the
Nigerian Cement Company Plc (NIGERCEM), Nkalagu,
have died of stress and starvation since production stopped
in 2000.
• According to, Mr. Festus Eze, a security guard with the
moribund cement company, “ the last time salaries were
paid to workers was in 2001, and they had been living on
charity since then”.
• "Unfortunately, the workers had been dying one after
another since then, " he said.
• "We are really distressed. I fetch and sell water to feed my
family. A jerry can of water sells for N25 and I had to fetch at
least 10 jerry cans to be able to feed my family everyday."
• - SOURCE: The Guardian, March 20, 2006.
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Case Study:2
Water Scarcity hits Dutse
Dutse, the capital city of Jigawa State recently witnessed
acute water shortage.
The situation became more pathetic when open wells
and hand pumps that were dug as alternative sources
dried up.
People resorted to stagnant water pools from the recent
rainfall for domestic uses.
Prices charged by hawkers of the ‘clean water’ went up,
such that a 5litres can of water increased to N30 from
N10, while an ablution kettle water went from N1 to
N5,yet scarce.
According to the state water board "Out of our three
stand by generators in Shuwari water station, the
supplier to Dutse city two have broken down while the
only one remaining lacks adequate supply of fuel from
the headquarter."
SOURCE: The Independent, May 2, 2006.
Case Study:3
State Water Utilities indicted
• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and
World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted an
urban water assessment in Nigeria.
• The report urged the government to establish national
regulatory agency for sanitation and water supply
schemes in the country.
• Reason: because of the poor performance of many
public water agencies in the supply of potable water to
the people.
• Source: Adeze Ojukwu, Daily Champion, May 5, 2006.
Case Study:4
Even a pastor !
• The judicial panel of inquiry investigating failed contracts
in Benue State has ordered a Pentecostal pastor, Rev.
John Orgunze to appear before it over complicity in a
N50 million water contract for markudi city.
• Orgunze was alleged to have failed to execute a N50
million water project after collecting a 50 percent
mobilization fee.
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SOURCE: The Independent, May 8,2006.
Case Study:5
Illegal Connections.
• Recently, the Investigation and Monitoring Unit of Kano
State Water Board, commenced massive disconnection
of illegal water pipelines, connected by commercial stand
pipe operators, commercial bath houses, car wash
operators and producers of sachet water popularly
known as ‘pure water’.
• Between, 11th May to 1st June, 2006, a total number of
40 illegal pipes were disconnected.
• The disconnection exercise affected 18 Bath houses, 15
commercial stand pipes, 2 car wash points and 2 pure
water factories.
• Contd.
Case Study:5
Illegal Connections (contd.)
• Though the state Water Board gave licenses to owners
of the commercial stand pipe operators, and Bath
houses, they made multiple connections and constructed
over head and underground tanks for storing water,
contrary to operational regulations.
• These illegalities prevented other domestic consumers
from getting water, as the vendors through their actions
diverted it for their commercial purposes.
• Besides construction of storage tanks, the operators of
the unlawful act also boosted the speed of the water
thereby hijacking it from other consumers.
• Source: Mustapha Isah Kwaru , Daily Trust, June 2,2006
A Conceptual Framework and socioeconomic
characteristics of the two cities: Jos, Plateau State.
Current Status of Water Utility.
• State-owned agency
• Unable to generate sufficient funds from consumers
– Limits the provision of sustainable water supply in
parts of Jos
• PSWB presently has a total of 4 schemes in the city
– Combined design capacity of 101mld
– 15,700 connections
• Treated water from the PSWB
– Good water quality
– Serves approximately 728,000 people
• Water availability is irregular
– Shortfall of a million people
• Their water is from private boreholes, water vendors
or local streams
Conceptual framework and socioeconomic characteristics
of the two cities.( Owerri, Imo State)
Men
Women
Most of the women are
full time housewives
Average distance covered
in collecting water in Jos.
< 0.5km
0.5-1.0 km
Wet Season
Dry Season
Males
Males
Females
Females
1.1- 2.0 km
> 2.0 km .
Conceptual framework and socioeconomic characteristics
(contd.)
• Besides domestic uses, water forms the focus of the
following widespread economic activities in these cities;
• -Beer brewing otherwise known as ‘mmaya nkwu’, ‘kunu’
and ‘burukutu’ etc;mini abattoir, pure water, ice block,
household gardening, bath-shops, household poultry,
animal husbandry, roof tile, bricks, tea shops,
restaurants, cold drinks, car washing, laundry etc.
Conceptual Framework and socioeconomic characteristics
(contd.)
• a) What is being analyzed?
• -Contributions of household water supplies to
household income; quite beyond the benefits of
drinking, cooking, bathing and laundry water.
• -And to an extent a review of the PRSP of
Nigeria to understand the focus of poverty
strategies as it affects enhanced government
expenditure programmes on water and
sanitation; and institutional reforms to improve
water governance or pro-poor investments etc.
Conceptual Framework (contd.):
• b) What is the welfare measure being
assessed?
• -This study focuses on assessing water
distribution impacts on welfare or well
being, including its income dimensions.
The study will explore appropriate
indicators of welfare and poverty based on
the country Nigeria and policy context.
Conceptual Framework (contd.)
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• c) Whose welfare is being analyzed?
• -This study is also interested on the distributional
impacts of reforms or policy change in the water
sector, on various groups, with a particular focus
on the poor and those vulnerable to
impoverishment. Groups in this study may be
defined in terms of income class, gender, age,
geographical location, livelihood, or other such
criteria.
Posers to be resolved:
• To what extent does asset e.g. house or
land ownership infringe on these
productive enterprises ?.
• How much water is needed and how much
is enough ?.
• How supplies the water?
• Can we quantify its impact to poverty
reduction?
Posers to be resolved (contd.)
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How do we commence incorporation?
The ratio of men and women involved?
Does quality of water matter?
Are their potential threats?
What level of tariff is being paid?
How much income is being generated?
Are socioeconomic needs really met? Etc.
Methods of data collection
• 1) Secondary sources e.g. official
documents such as government
publications, Donor reports, NGO
bulletins, earlier research, newspapers
and personal records etc.
• 2) Primary sources e.g. Interviews and use
of questionnaires.
Research Methodology and
Process
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>Formulation of research problem.
>Conceptualization of research design.
>Literature review
-Development of a theoretical framework.
-Development of a conceptual framework.
>Selection of a sample strategy
-Quota Surveys.
>Development of data collection instruments
-Questionnaires
-Interviews.
>Research Proposal.
>Data Collection.
>Processing data.
>Research Report.
Output
• Study Report
• Workshops
• Thanks……