Climate threat: Nigeria takes second global ranking out of 160 countries

As world leaders and and relevant organisations converge for the UN 2023 Water Conference, the United Nations Children’s Fund in its new analysis says 78 million Nigerian children are at the highest risk from convergence of three water threats- inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); related diseases; and climate hazards.

Nigeria also ranks second out of 163 countries globally with the highest risk of exposure to climate and environmental threats. This is as groundwater levels are also dropping, requiring some communities to dig wells twice as deep as just a decade ago. At the same time, rainfall has become more erratic and intense, leading to floods that contaminate scarce water supplies.

According to UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Dr. Jane Bevan, one-third of children in Nigeria do not have access to at least basic water at home, and two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services.

Hand hygiene is also limited, with three-quarters of children unable to wash their hands due to lack of water and soap at home. As a result, Nigeria is one of the 10 countries that carry the heaviest burden of child deaths from diseases caused by inadequate WASH, such as diarrhoeal diseases.

Dr. Bevan said, “I believe we need to rapidly scale-up investment in the sector, including from global climate financing, strengthen climate resilience in the WASH sector and communities, increase effective and accountable systems, coordination, and capacities to provide water and sanitation services, and implement the UN-Water SDG6 Global Acceleration Framework.

[AD] Urgent: Download This APP & Get Instant Reward

---

“If we continue at the current pace, it will take 16 years to achieve access to safe water for all in Nigeria. We cannot wait that long, and the time to move quickly is now. Investing in climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services is not only a matter of protecting children’s health today, but also ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”