By Sola Ogundipe
More than 161 million Nigerians still depend on contaminated water sources, exposing millions of children to preventable diseases that disrupt their education and threaten their future, according to Save the Children International (SCI).
The organisation highlighted the scale of the challenge as Nigeria joined other African countries in commemorating the 2026 Day of the African Child on June 16. The event, themed “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” focused attention on the persistent lack of access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services across the continent.
In a statement marking the occasion, SCI said about seven in every 10 Nigerian children lack access to basic WASH services. It noted that only 26.5 per cent of the population has access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities, while more than 10 million pupils attend schools without basic sanitation.
“For many families, the daily routine begins with a search for water, and in rural communities, children often trek long distances to streams, ponds and other unsafe sources. What appears to be a normal part of life can carry serious consequences,” the organisation stated.
According to SCI, unsafe water and poor sanitation continue to drive outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid fever across the country.
“Health experts estimate that more than 70,000 Nigerian children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoeal diseases, many of them linked to poor hygiene, unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation,” the statement added.
The organisation further observed that many schools lack functioning toilets and handwashing facilities, creating unhealthy learning environments for children.
Teachers, it noted, report that sanitation-related illnesses contribute significantly to absenteeism, while many adolescent girls miss classes because schools lack facilities that allow them to manage menstrual hygiene safely and privately.
SCI also expressed concern about the state of sanitation services in the healthcare sector, noting that only six per cent of health facilities in Nigeria have access to basic WASH services.
“Despite years of campaigns and investment, open defecation remains widespread. An estimated 22 per cent of Nigerians still practise it, increasing the risk of contamination of water sources and the spread of infectious diseases,” the statement said.
Speaking on the issue, SCI Deputy Country Director, Jane Mbagi Mutua, said urgent action is required to address the situation.
“Millions of children in Nigeria continue to face daily challenges because they lack access to clean water, safe sanitation and proper hygiene facilities. The urgency of action has never been clearer,” she said.
Mutua stressed that ensuring universal access to clean water and sanitation would require stronger commitment from governments, development partners, communities and the private sector.
She noted that children in poor and underserved communities continue to bear the greatest burden, despite access to water and sanitation being recognised globally as a fundamental human right.
“The theme calls for renewed commitment from governments, partners and communities to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to safe, reliable and sustainable WASH services,” she said.
“To change the story for millions of children, urgent and collective action is needed. Government must increase funding and accelerate implementation of national WASH strategies, development partners and donors should prioritise long-term, sustainable WASH investments, and communities must embrace improved hygiene practices and support efforts to end open defecation.”
Mutua also urged private sector stakeholders to drive innovation and expand access to WASH services through strategic partnerships.
Also speaking, House Leader of the Katsina State Children’s Parliament, Muhammad Aminu, emphasised the importance of ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for every child.
“Every African child deserves clean water, safe sanitation and good hygiene. This is not charity. It is an investment in health, dignity, education and the future of Africa,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event called for increased investment in water infrastructure, faster implementation of national WASH policies and intensified efforts to end open defecation. They also urged communities to play a more active role in promoting hygiene practices that can help prevent disease.
Participants agreed that for millions of Nigerian children, the challenge of inadequate water and sanitation remains a daily reality.
For many, they noted, the issue is not merely about development targets or policy discussions, but about health, safety and the opportunity to grow up free from preventable diseases.
