More than 161 million Nigerians are still trapped in a crippling water crisis, a situation that continues to expose millions of children to preventable diseases while casting a long shadow over their health, education and future prospects, Save the Children International (SCI) has warned.
The organisation sounded the alarm on Wednesday in Katsina in a statement issued by its Digital Media and Communications Specialist, Mogbonjubade Adesulure, to commemorate the 2026 Day of the African Child.
This year’s observance is themed: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
SCI painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) landscape, revealing that nearly 70 per cent of children across the country remain without access to basic WASH services, a gap that continues to rob many of a healthy start in life.
According to the organisation, the statistics are as stark as they are troubling. Only six per cent of healthcare facilities have access to basic WASH services, while a mere 26.5 per cent of Nigerians enjoy improved drinking water and sanitation services.
The organisation further noted that more than 10 million schoolchildren still attend schools without basic sanitation facilities, a challenge that continues to undermine academic performance and disproportionately affects girls.
“More than 10 million school children still lack basic sanitation facilities in their schools, a situation she said continues to negatively affect learning outcomes, particularly among girls.
“Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation has left children vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, with diarrhoeal diseases alone killing more than 70,000 children under the age of five annually.
“The challenge is more severe in rural and underserved communities, where many families depend on unsafe water sources and lack access to improved sanitation facilities,” the Organisation warned.
SCI also highlighted the persistence of open defecation, noting that about 22 per cent of Nigerians still engage in the practice, a development that continues to fuel disease outbreaks and environmental pollution.
Describing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene as a fundamental human right rather than a privilege, the organisation called for a stronger and more coordinated response from governments, development partners, communities and the private sector.
SCI Deputy Country Director, Jane Mbagi, said the theme of the 2026 Day of the African Child should serve as a wake-up call for urgent and sustained intervention.
“As Nigeria joins the rest of the continent to mark the Day of the African Child, the urgency of action has never been clearer.
“The theme calls for renewed commitment from governments, development partners and communities to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to safe, reliable and sustainable WASH services.”
Mbagi urged governments to loosen the purse strings and increase investments in WASH programmes, while accelerating the implementation of existing national strategies.
She also challenged development partners to prioritise long-term investments capable of delivering lasting solutions, while calling on communities to embrace improved hygiene practices and support campaigns aimed at ending open defecation.
The SCI official further encouraged private sector players to drive innovation and forge partnerships that would widen access to water, sanitation and hygiene services across the country.
Adding the voice of children to the conversation, House Leader of the Katsina State Children’s Parliament, Master Muhammad Aminu, stressed that access to clean water and sanitation should not be left to chance.
“This is not charity. It is an investment in health, dignity, education and the future of Africa,” he said.
