Water Scarcity Exacerbating Gender Inequality in Akwa Ibom and Cross River – Advocacy Group

A press statement from the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has highlighted how limited access to safe water, inadequate funding, and slow policy execution are intensifying gender inequality in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The organization pointed out that women and girls are particularly affected by these challenges.

This announcement followed community engagements in the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom held on March 21, 2026, in celebration of the 2026 World Water Day, with the theme "Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows."

The foundation, which operates in both Akwa Ibom and Cross River, noted a disturbing pattern of insufficient investment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives, which coupled with weak institutional frameworks, leaves rural populations, especially women and girls, vulnerable to health hazards and social disparities.

"Where water flows, equality grows. But in many of our communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, clean and safe water does not flow, and inequality persists," the organization emphasized.

It explained that across rural regions in both states, women and girls are frequently tasked with traveling long distances to fetch water from streams contaminated by activities such as mining and oil extraction, thus increasing health risks and limiting their time for education and economic pursuits.

Additionally, the lack of suitable and private sanitation facilities in various environments, especially schools and public areas, has further exacerbated their vulnerabilities.

Although the PPDF acknowledged some progress in Akwa Ibom's policies, such as the establishment of a State WASH Policy and an Open Defecation-Free (ODF) roadmap, it expressed disappointment over the slow pace of implementation.

The organization pointed out that sanitation and hygiene initiatives sanctioned nearly a year earlier in several local government areas, including Obot Akara, Ikono, Esit Eket, and Nsit Ubium, are still incomplete or uncommissioned.

Moreover, the foundation expressed concerns regarding the establishment delays of essential bodies like the State Water Council and the Water Regulatory Council, alongside the failure to transform the Akwa Ibom Water Company into a fully functional corporation as mandated by law three years prior.

The inability of the state to achieve the 2025 national ODF target, which has only been met by Nsit Atai local government area, reveals critical gaps in funding, coordination, and consistent technical assistance.

Currently, just 38 out of Nigeria's 774 local government areas have been declared open defecation-free.

In Cross River, while acknowledging the enactment of the Open Defecation Prohibition Law by the state legislature as a positive sign for enhancing sanitation governance, the PPDF cautioned that the lack of dedicated funding jeopardizes the law’s effectiveness.

"Without explicit financial commitments, enforcement risks becoming merely symbolic instead of impactful. Proper functioning of institutions requires appropriate resources for community outreach, monitoring, and service delivery," the group stated.

The shortfall in funding compromises the ability of the State Task Group on WASH and local departments to convert legislative measures into tangible results, which could hinder the goals of attaining ODF status and promoting public health.

The PPDF urged both state administrations to give precedence to ongoing financing, fortify institutional structures, and expedite the enactment of WASH projects and policies.

They recommend immediate activation of approved frameworks, formation of regulatory bodies, prompt provision of financial resources, and embrace of sustainable funding models.

Furthermore, the foundation called on officials to ensure operational WASH departments in all local government areas and enhance sanitation facilities in educational and public settings, focusing particularly on the needs of women, girls, and people living with disabilities.

It also accentuated the necessity for increased community participation through local WASH committees to oversee facilities and hold authorities accountable.

"As we celebrate World Water Day, it is vital to understand that water is not a mere resource; it is a pathway to equality. Ensuring fair access, especially for women and girls, should be a fundamental aspect of all initiatives," the PPDF concluded.