Save the Children International has raised concerns over the state of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria, revealing that about 70 per cent of children in the country are growing up without access to basic WASH facilities.
The organisation disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja to mark the 2026 Day of the African Child, themed “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.”
According to Save the Children, millions of Nigerian children continue to face daily challenges due to the lack of clean water, safe toilets and handwashing facilities, exposing them to health risks and affecting their education and overall wellbeing.
The organisation noted that more than 161 million Nigerians rely on contaminated water sources, while only six per cent of healthcare facilities have basic WASH services.
It also stated that more than 10 million schoolchildren lack access to basic sanitation facilities.
Save the Children said poor access to WASH services contributes significantly to diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, adding that diarrhoeal diseases claim the lives of more than 70,000 children under the age of five annually.
The organisation further observed that inadequate sanitation facilities in schools continue to disrupt learning, particularly for girls who often stay away from school due to the absence of suitable hygiene facilities.
Speaking on the significance of the Day of the African Child, Deputy Country Director of Save the Children, Jane Mbagi Mutua, called for stronger commitment from governments, development partners and communities to guarantee access to safe and sustainable WASH services for every child.
“As Nigeria joins the rest of the continent to mark the Day of the African Child 2026, under the theme ‘Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa,’ the urgency of action has never been clearer. The theme calls for renewed commitment from governments, partners, and communities to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WASH services,” she said.
The organisation said the situation is more difficult in rural and underserved communities where many families depend on unsafe water sources and lack access to improved sanitation facilities.
It added that about 22 per cent of Nigerians still practise open defecation, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and environmental contamination.
Save the Children urged the government to increase funding for WASH programmes and accelerate the implementation of national strategies.
It also called on development partners to prioritise sustainable investments, while encouraging communities and the private sector to support efforts to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Also speaking, House Leader of the Katsina State Children’s Parliament, Muhammad Aminu, stressed the importance of improving access to clean water and sanitation for children across Africa.
“Every African child deserves clean water, safe sanitation, and good hygiene. This is not charity. It is an investment in health, dignity, education, and the future of Africa,” he said.
The organisation maintained that universal access to WASH services is both a development priority and a fundamental right, urging stakeholders to take urgent action to address the challenge.
