New training initiative seeks to equip water sector personnel with practical tools for safer water management in communities and institutions

The Federal Government, led by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has stepped up its water quality drive by partnering with Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene to strengthen safe water management across Nigeria.

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Utsev made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday through a representative, Habu Jamilu, a director in the ministry, at a national Training of Trainers workshop organised under the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign.

The initiative is anchored on the Water Quality Handbook, developed as a standard reference for managing water quality in communities and institutions.

The handbook is designed to provide practical guidance across the water quality chain, covering source protection, household water handling, testing and treatment.

Speaking through Jamilu, Utsev said Nigeria needed a coordinated framework to address persistent water quality concerns.

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

The minister said the handbook also addressed the growing effects of climate change on water quality, giving personnel guidance on how to respond to emerging risks.

Utsev described participants at the workshop as the technical core of their respective organisations and urged them to extend the knowledge gained to other personnel and stakeholders.

The emphasis on training reflects the government’s broader challenge of ensuring that water access translates into reliable access to water that is safe for consumption and household use.

The National Coordinator of the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Global Head, Dr Nicholas Igwe, said the campaign represented an important shift in focus.

Rather than concentrating solely on increasing access to water, Igwe said stakeholders must pay equal attention to the quality of water reaching households and communities.

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

Igwe explained that communities needed greater understanding of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water, as well as the consequences of consuming contaminated water.

Poor water quality can contribute to waterborne diseases and other health problems, while illness associated with unsafe water can also affect productivity and household welfare.

For the organisers, the training is therefore intended to create a network of personnel capable of taking practical water safety messages beyond government offices and into communities.

Igwe said participants would subsequently help extend the campaign to states, local government areas and communities.

He called for stronger participation from state governments, particularly governors and water and sanitation agencies, to ensure that the initiative develops beyond the national workshop.

“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 said.

Private-sector participation, he added, would also be essential in turning water quality policies into practical interventions, particularly for people who rely 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.

The handbook provides a common reference point for stakeholders dealing with water safety, while the training is intended to strengthen the human capacity needed to apply its recommendations.

Technical sessions at the Abuja workshop covered the fundamentals of water quality, water safety and household water management, alongside practical approaches to water quality testing.

Representatives of relevant government ministries and stakeholders across the water, sanitation and hygiene sector attended the workshop.

The programme also highlights the importance of connecting national water policy with everyday household practices.

Protecting a water source alone cannot guarantee safe consumption if water becomes contaminated during transportation, storage or handling.

For the Federal Government and its private-sector partners, the immediate priority is to build a stronger chain of responsibility, from the point where water is sourced to the moment it is consumed.

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The success of the water quality drive will ultimately depend on whether the knowledge gained by trained personnel reaches communities and produces safer water practices at household level.