The Ecumenical Water Network Africa EWNA, the Nigeria based African branch of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Water Network, had a mini research on water done on the local marked of Bodija in Ibadan North, Nigeria, between March and April 2024. This popular market is a huge business hub. People were asked about the importance and availability of water, their personal use and the challenges to have access to water, and about the understanding of water as a human right. While 26 out of 30 respondents agreed that «water should be free and readily available for human use», the understanding that «it is the responsibility of the government to provide free and healthy water» is less strong. EWNA will build on this first little survey for their future work and campaign.
As Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, coordinator of EWNA, states:
This survey was designed to focus on the provision of piped water, which is a government responsibility. However, in the market surveyed, we discovered a shallow well as the only means of water availability in the area, which is why most respondents did not recognise water supply as a government responsibility. It is equally challenging to see how infrequently tap water is available in the households where the traders live.
EWNA hopes to expand this survey in the second phase and include two more markets in Ibadan North Local Government to support our Voices for Water Justice campaign and strengthen a sector advocacy and campaign targeting the government to consider the provision of piped water in local markets as a priority.
Download the presentation of the mini research as PDF: Water survey – Bodija Market Ibadan