Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev. Photo: The Nation

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to improve water quality across the country.

This is as the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is partnering with Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene to train personnel on safe water management.

The initiative is being implemented under the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign, which is centred on the Water Quality Handbook developed as a standard reference for managing water quality in communities and institutions.

Speaking at a national Training of Trainers workshop on water quality on Thursday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said Nigeria needed a unified approach to tackling water quality challenges.

Represented by a Director in the Ministry, Habu Jamilu, Utsev said the handbook would provide guidance across the water quality chain, from protecting water sources to household water handling, testing and treatment.

He said, “We need to adopt a unified and standardised strategy for addressing water quality challenges across the country.”

According to him, the handbook also provides guidance on responding to the impact of climate change on water quality.

The minister described the participants as the technical core of their respective institutions and urged them to use the training to build the capacity of other personnel and stakeholders.

He stressed the need for collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders, saying no single institution could effectively address the country’s water quality challenges.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Global Head, Dr Nicholas Igwe, said the campaign marked a shift from merely providing access to water to ensuring that the water consumed by Nigerians was safe.

Igwe said, “We want people to know exactly what they drink and how it affects their health.”

He explained that communities needed to understand the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water and the consequences of consuming contaminated water.

According to him, poor water quality contributes to various health challenges, particularly diseases associated with contaminated water, while unhealthy populations could undermine economic productivity.

Igwe said the training would produce personnel who would subsequently take the water quality campaign to states, local government areas and communities.

He called on state governments to take ownership of the initiative by supporting water and sanitation agencies to ensure that the training and its messages reached communities.

He said, “We need stronger involvement by state governments, particularly governors and relevant water and sanitation agencies, to support this campaign and ensure that the training reaches communities.”

Igwe also stressed the importance of private-sector participation in translating water quality policies into practical interventions for people who depend on local water sources.

The initiative builds on the Water Quality Handbook, launched in April 2026 with support from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

Technical sessions at the workshop focused on the fundamentals of water quality, water safety and household water management, as well as water quality testing methods.

The workshop brought together representatives of relevant ministries and stakeholders across the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.