A non-governmental organisation, Safe Water Global Initiative (SWGI), has sounded the alarm over a worsening water crisis in flood-hit areas of Nigeria, warning that contaminated water sources and inadequate access to safe drinking water are threatening public health. The group’s founder, Francis Uzoma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that many rural communities have been forced to use unsafe water for drinking and everyday use since the floods began, raising concerns about potential outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, and other water-borne illnesses.
Uzoma urged urgent action from government, private sector, and development partners. Key among his recommendations are: relocating people from flood prone zones, providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and ensuring water sources are treated and monitored. He emphasized that safe water must be prioritised as a human right, particularly in vulnerable areas, to significantly reduce the health risks posed by the floods.