PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
July 28, 2025
CHARS-Africa Commends Abia State Government’s Commitment to Safe and Inclusive Water Access; Urges Sustained Compliance with National and International Legal Frameworks
The African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa) warmly commends the official flag-off of Phase One of the Rehabilitation of the Aba Water Scheme by the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, which took place on July 16, 2025, at St. Joseph’s College, Aba. This bold initiative to resuscitate a long-abandoned public utility infrastructure is timely and laudable, particularly in light of Nigeria’s constitutional, statutory, and international obligations to realise human right to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all persons.
The Governor’s address, aptly titled “Water for Every Need,” demonstrates a forward-thinking and rights-based understanding of water as a fundamental necessity and a legally protected entitlement. Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) obligates the State to “protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air, and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria.” This constitutional duty aligns with Nigeria’s global commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
We specially commend the Abia State Government for operationalising the Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme (AIWAP) as a strategic policy vehicle for achieving equitable access to potable water within a 2–3-minute walking distance from every home. This aligns with the principle of progressive realisation of socio-economic rights, notably the right to water, as enshrined in Articles 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Furthermore, the Governor’s commitment to universal and non-discriminatory access to ensure that safe and treated water is made available to all residents, regardless of socio-economic status, reflects a rights-based approach to development that prioritises dignity, equity, and social justice.
CHARS-Africa urges that this inclusive vision be sustained and operationalized by ensuring that:
1. Marginalised communities, including rural dwellers, women, children, and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) are not only beneficiaries but active participants in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the water scheme.
2. All phases of the project strictly adhere to the provisions of the Abia State Public Procurement Law (2012) and the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007) to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and value-for-money in public spending.
3. Environmental sustainability and climate resilience are prioritised, including the use of renewable energy sources, as exemplified in the newly commissioned solar-powered WASH facility at Okigwe Motor Park, Umuahia.
4. Long-term operation, maintenance, and security of WASH facilities are assured through adequate institutional arrangements, staff training, and dedicated budgetary allocations.
While we acknowledge the past disruptions caused by shifting foreign aid policies, we commend the ingenuity of the State Government in reimagining domestic financing strategies and recommitting to the water development agenda. Nonetheless, we encourage that future partnerships with international actors incorporate robust legal safeguards to protect local development interests from abrupt geopolitical changes.
CHARS-Africa also welcomes the Government’s proactive measures to combat open defecation, a degrading practice that threatens human health, dignity, and environmental quality. These efforts align with the National Action Plan for the Revitalisation of Nigeria’s WASH Sector and the Federal Government’s goal of ending open defecation by 2025 under the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet campaign.
In view of the above, CHARS-Africa calls on all stakeholders; traditional rulers, civil society organisations, donor partners, community members, and the media, to support, monitor, and advance the implementation of this transformative initiative.
We also urge the good people of Abia State to complement the government’s efforts by fulfilling their civic responsibilities, including timely payment of water rates, proper use of WASH infrastructure, and the prompt reporting of vandalism or misuse of public utilities.
In conclusion:
Access to safe, sufficient, and affordable water is not a luxury or charitable service, it is a fundamental necessity and a legal obligation of the State. Water is the lifeblood of public health, education, productivity, and sustainable development. CHARS-Africa remains committed to working with government and non-state actors to promote rights-based governance and to ensure that no one is left behind.
Signed:
Amaka Biachi, Esq.
Executive Director
CHARS-Africa
Email: charsafrica.ng@gmail.com | Tel: +234-080-355-29865
