Returning from Scotland, the author launched a three‑week campaign in Nigeria, proposing a targeted energy‑subsidy amendment, critiquing President Tinubu’s Independence Day pledge, and outlining an elastic fuel‑discount scheme for key sectors, while also reflecting on Scotland’s tap water as a contrast to Nigeria’s failing public water system.
Key points:
- The proposed "productive‑energy subsidy" amends former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s earlier production‑subsidy plan.
- President Tinubu’s promise of prosperity was challenged as unrealistic without affordable energy.
- Finance Minister Oyedele’s 30‑day petrol discount and ₦1,350 ex‑gantry ceiling were questioned, with an alternative elastic subsidy model presented for large‑scale farmers, transporters, manufacturers, teachers and police.
- Nigeria’s low per‑capita crude output cannot sustain a universal fuel subsidy, but focused support can lower fuel costs for priority users even amid global market volatility.
What sparked the comparison with Scotland?
During a stay in Scotland, the author, an elite member of an IHG hotel, asked for complimentary bottled water. The receptionist replied, “In Scotland, we don’t do bottled water. We drink directly from the tap.” The remark triggered memories of a childhood tap outside the family compound in Oyo, reminding the author of a public water source often taken for granted.
How does Scotland ensure safe drinking water?
Scotland’s water originates from rainfall that fills rivers, lochs and reservoirs, supplemented by groundwater. Scottish Water treats and disinfects the raw water before distribution. In 2024, 99.92 % of 156,814 tap‑water tests met regulatory standards. The system’s reliability rests on an engineered network of treatment plants, pumps, pipes, laboratories, trained staff, funding and regulation, maintained continuously rather than celebrated in one‑off ceremonies.
What was the childhood water source in Oyo?
Between ages six and twelve, the author walked five to six miles daily to Aatan Baptist Primary School, Oyo. A public tap outside the family compound, supplied by **[Erelu Waterworks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyo_State)**, provided relief from thirst. The water came from the Erelu Reservoir on the Awon River, commissioned in 1961, covering 161 hectares with an initial design capacity of 7.5 million litres per day for surrounding communities.
Why has the system deteriorated?
Soon after independence, Nigeria operated a public water service. Six decades later, the nation has shifted from collective provision to household self‑provision. The author contacted Hon. Kamil Akinlabi (ADC), former House of Representatives member for the constituency (2007‑2015), who arranged a federal intervention to rehabilitate Erelu, including pipes, generators and pumps. Akinlabi later reported that the project stalled in 2015 and that no household currently receives pipe‑borne water in Oyo.
What do other officials say?
Hon. Moruf Akinwande (APM), Akinlabi’s predecessor and former Chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation (2022‑2023), claimed that major renovations were completed, new pumps installed and some areas supplied, though extensions to other zones failed. He blamed urban development for damaging existing pipes and highlighted funding, maintenance and electoral politics as chronic obstacles.
How widespread is the water crisis?
Across Nigeria, households resort to wells, boreholes, sachet or bottled water, incurring high costs and exposure to contamination. The WHO/UNICEF 2024 estimate places safely managed drinking‑water access at just 30 % nationally, far below neighboring countries such as Morocco (80 %) and Egypt (79 %).
What investment is needed?
A **[World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/)** assessment estimates Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene sector requires $30 billion over six years—about $5 billion annually. The author urges each state to audit dams, treatment plants, pumps and distribution networks, publish a ten‑year recovery plan, and create a federal Water Infrastructure Recovery Fund that ties financing to verified water quality, reliability, leakage reduction and new household connections.
What is the broader lesson?
The author argues that Nigeria’s water crisis mirrors its electricity crisis: relying on individual households to become their own utilities undermines national prosperity. Collective infrastructure—maintained by government and shared by citizens—is essential for sustainable development. Remembering the simple act of cupping water from a communal tap underscores the value of public services that future generations deserve.