Toward Sustainable Use of Groundwater in Nigeria: A Review

An estimated 75% of Africa’s population get drinking water from groundwater. This high statistic is mostly the resultant effect of infrastructural decay in the potable water supply sector of economies in most African countries. In Nigeria, just 14% of the country’s population get regular water supply through piped sources while the remainder of the country’s 162.5 million people draw their water supply mainly from surface and groundwater sources. Groundwater, in Nigeria, is accessed mainly in the form of shallow (hand-dug) and deep (boreholes) wells. Well water withdrawal activities are mostly unregulated and, therefore, the water sources are often subjected to avoidable abuses and pollutions. In particular, rapid urbanization, agricultural and industrial activities are major contributors of pollutions to groundwater sources. Also, unavailability of data such as geographical information on water quantity, hydrology, state of aquifer health and withdrawal limits have contributed to the unsustainable use of groundwater in Nigeria. This paper critically reviewed these challenges and proffered solutions to issues raised.