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Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), an environmental non-governmental organisation, has called on the federal and state governments to adopt gender-responsive approaches in tackling Nigeria’s water challenges.
The organisation made the call in a statement by its Project Officer, Tracy Ohovwore, on Saturday, March 21, in Lagos to mark the 2026 World Water Day, commemorated annually on March 22.
Ohovwore said the call aligns with this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” and its campaign slogan, “Where water flows, equality grows,” which highlights the link between water access and gender equality.
She noted that the global commemoration, led by UN Women and UNICEF, underscored how water inequality disproportionately affects women and girls.
According to her, the 2026 theme reflects the realities faced by women and girls in Nigeria and across the Global South, particularly the physical and mental strain associated with sourcing water.
She said in many communities, women and girls bear the burden of water scarcity.
“The daily drudgery women and the girl child contend with due to dry taps in their communities is real.
“This situation is not limited to rural areas alone; it is also prevalent in cities like Lagos and Abuja,” she said.
Ohovwore added that the situation exposes women and girls to risks and, in many cases, deprives the girl-child of access to education.
She noted that lack of access to water affects women’s hygiene, increasing their vulnerability to diseases.
Ohovwore said it aligned with global recommendations that women and girls should be placed at the centre of water solutions to achieve key Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
She urged governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric and adopt deliberate, gender-sensitive policies covering water governance, management, and infrastructure development.
By Fabian Ekeruche
