Africa still lags behind in tackling water, sanitation crisis — Igwe

A member of the Presidential Steering Committee on Sanitation, Nicholas Igwe, has said that Africa is still far behind in finding solutions to its water and sanitation crisis.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Igwe emphasized the need for immediate structural reforms within Africa’s water sector.

He contended that the ongoing challenges related to water and sanitation on the continent are primarily due to institutional shortcomings rather than a lack of financial resources.

Speaking on the financing gap in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Igwe cautioned that if African governments do not foster environments conducive to private sector involvement, the continent may encounter escalating social and economic crises associated with insufficient access to clean water and sanitation services.

He noted that Africa’s water sector is ensnared in a cycle of underinvestment, not due to the unavailability of capital, technology or expertise, but because governments have not established the necessary institutional framework to attract and sustain private investment.

“We require a platform that unites the private sector, government entities, civil society organizations, development partners and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing the sector and formulate practical solutions,” he emphasized.

“The transformation of the water sector must mirror the advancements seen in telecommunications, energy, housing and healthcare,” he stated.

Dr. Igwe highlighted that no single institution currently has the capability to provide the political support, financial market access and sector-wide coordination essential for driving significant change in the WASH sector.

He elaborated that political will without financial access results in commitments that cannot be executed, while financial market access without coordination leads to funding mechanisms that lack feasible projects. Likewise, coordination without accountability results in agreements that provide minimal regulatory protection for investors.

“The platform we require necessitates the integration of all three components. Currently, no existing institution offers this combination,” he remarked.

He contended that Africa’s water crisis should not merely be perceived as a technological or financial issue, but rather as a structural and institutional failure that has hindered the delivery of available resources to communities in dire need.

Africa still lags behind in tackling water, sanitation crisis — Igwe