The report, titled “Big Debt, Big Thirst: A Case Study of World Bank Supported Projects in Ekiti, Rivers and Bauchi States,” was presented at a media briefing by CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi.
A new report by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has exposed widespread failures in the World Bank-backed water privatisation reforms across Ekiti, Rivers, and Bauchi states.
The report, titled “Big Debt, Big Thirst: A Case Study of World Bank Supported Projects in Ekiti, Rivers and Bauchi States,” was presented at a media briefing by CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi.
According to the findings, the privatisation-driven reforms, introduced under the World Bank’s Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (NUWSRP3), have failed to improve water access in the affected states despite a $250 million loan from the International Development Association.
Instead, communities continue to experience chronic water shortages, increased tariffs, and diminished public accountability.
The NUWSRP3 aimed to enhance water infrastructure and management by promoting private sector involvement in the water supply sector.
However, the report revealed that five years after the project’s completion, residents in the affected states are still struggling with limited access to potable water, with many areas worse off than before the reforms.
The report noted Ekiti State, significant investments in infrastructure, such as the Ero and Ureje dams, have not translated into improved water supply.
According to the report, residents in areas like Iworoko and Olorunsogo, who paid between N5,000 and N50,000 for prepaid meters and water connections, remain without reliable access to potable water.
The report stated that many locals recall the 1990s—when water utilities were publicly managed—as the last period of consistent supply.
In Bauchi State, the report stated that chronic electricity shortages have hindered water supply improvements, despite substantial financial injections aimed at upgrading infrastructure and corporatising the state’s water board.
The report argued that the privatisation model had failed to resolve systemic inefficiencies that existed under public management.
In Rivers State, the report noted the situation is even more complex. The NUWSRP3 was meant to enhance water supply for over 1.5million residents in Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt, through a collaboration between the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
However, procurement challenges and poor coordination between the two financial institutions led to severe delays, ultimately resulting in the World Bank’s withdrawal from the project.
The report highlights that, despite the failure of the water projects, Nigeria remains saddled with long-term debt repayment obligations.
The foreign currency-denominated loans divert critical resources away from essential public services, exacerbating economic hardship in an already struggling economy.
“The failure of these projects is not just about inefficiency; it is about a deeply flawed model that prioritises private profit over public welfare. Privatisation has not solved Nigeria’s water crisis—it has worsened it,” Oluwafemi stated.
CAPPA’s report urged the Nigerian government to abandon water privatisation policies and instead adopt a public investment model that treats water as a fundamental human right.
The report calls for, “Increased public funding for water infrastructure; transparent governance mechanisms to prevent corruption; community involvement in water management, and regulatory frameworks that ensure equitable access.”
It also criticised the broader neoliberal policies promoted by international financial institutions, arguing that these policies have consistently undermined democratic control over essential public services.
As Nigeria continues to struggle with poor infrastructure and economic instability, the report raised urgent questions about the role of international financial institutions in shaping the country’s development policies.
With water access remaining a critical issue for millions of Nigerians, the call for a re-evaluation of privatisation policies is growing louder.
The failures documented in Big Debt, Big Thirst are not unique to Nigeria. Similar patterns have been observed in other countries where water privatisation, often imposed as a condition for international loans, has led to increased costs, reduced service quality, and public outcry.
CAPPA’s findings added to the growing evidence that water privatisation may not be the silver bullet it has long been presented as.
The report stressed that Nigeria must rethink its approach to water management, noting that without significant public investment and policy changes, millions of citizens will continue to face the harsh reality of dry taps and growing financial burdens.
Source: Sahara Reporters
