Managing Nigerians Groundwater Resources for Safe Drinking Water

Abstract

The management of Nigerians groundwater resources for safe water provision requires knowledge and capacity to effectively harness the resources for sustainable development. However, good planning and implementation strategies are needed to achieve sustainable operation and maintenance management. The wide variations in hydrogeological regimes across the country result insignificant differences in the availability and quality of groundwater. Lack of coordination and enforcement of best practices in the groundwater industry and the absence of community ownership of most rural water supply schemes have greatly affected the management of Nigerians groundwater resources. Therefore, collaboration between the different stakeholders is necessary to understand and address the general and peculiar issues of sustainability, with emphasis on the impact of groundwater resources in ensuring national water security, poverty alleviation and improving the health conditions of the people. Conduct of research and establishment of national groundwater data base management system should be encouraged in order to economically and sustainably utilize the resource.