International Women's Day 2026: Nigerian Women Deprived of Fundamental Human Rights Amid Devastating Water Shortage, Says WaterAid

Nigeria's persistent water, sanitation, and hygiene crisis is having a devastating impact on millions of women and girls, stripping them of their rights, dignity, and opportunities, according to WaterAid Nigeria, which made the warning on this year's International Women's Day.

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The organisation is calling on the government, development partners, and the private sector to take immediate and coordinated action to address this critical barrier to gender equality, which is underscored by the theme of this year's International Women's Day, "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls".

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WaterAid Nigeria insists that without access to safe water and sanitation, the goal of dismantling systemic inequalities will remain elusive, as women and girls continue to bear the burden of sourcing water, often walking long distances daily.

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This reality limits their ability to pursue education, earn income, and participate in leadership, according to WaterAid, which notes that the crisis goes beyond infrastructure and strikes at the heart of human rights and equality.

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The Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, emphasized that safe water and sanitation are fundamental human rights and essential foundations for gender equality, saying "When women and girls spend hours daily searching for water or lack safe sanitation, their ability to learn, work, and take their place in society is severely limited".

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Poor sanitation conditions also expose women and girls to risks to their safety, privacy, and health, while undermining school attendance and participation in public life, warned Mere.

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WaterAid further highlighted the dire state of WASH services in critical institutions, noting that inadequate facilities in healthcare centres worsen maternal and child health outcomes and increase the burden of care on women.

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The organisation backed its call with troubling statistics, including the fact that 44.5 million Nigerians lack access to clean water close to home, while 116.8 million do not have decent toilets.

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An estimated 150.6 million people lack basic handwashing facilities, contributing to preventable diseases, including diarrhoea, which claims over 65,000 children under five annually.

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In schools and healthcare facilities, the situation is equally alarming, with only 11 per cent of schools and 6 per cent of health facilities having basic WASH services.

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To address the crisis, WaterAid Nigeria is urging governments at all levels to adopt gender-responsive policies and increase investments in the sector, including the integration of gender considerations into WASH planning and budgeting.

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The organisation is also calling for increased funding for water and sanitation services in schools, health facilities, and markets, as well as stronger institutional coordination across sectors.

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Greater representation of women in water governance and decision-making processes is also needed, with Mere saying "Women must have meaningful representation in water governance structures and leadership positions to ensure their voices shape policies and investments".

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Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030, will be impossible without prioritising the needs and rights of women and girls, according to WaterAid Nigeria.

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The organisation is calling for bold policy decisions and sustained domestic financing to transform the sector on this year's International Women's Day.