Examples of our work in Nigeria

A traditional water source

Children collecting water from an open pond in the outskirts of Oju town in Benue state.

Credit: WaterAid / Vincent Gainey

These pools (pictured right) are typical of the unprotected water sources used by much of the population on the outskirts of Oju.

They are seepage pools formed when the water table meets the ground surface. At this stage of the dry season they are heavily polluted and a source of many diseases including guinea worm.

Our projects are helping to significantly reduce Benue state's high rate of guinea worm infection that is attributable to the use of such water sources.

New community well

Women gathering water from a well in Ahyoga.

Credit: WaterAid / Jim Holmes

WaterAid helped the community of Ahyoga village in Benue state construct this well (pictured right) over a two month period. Having safe water close to home has greatly improved the lives of the village's women, who used to have to walk to the nearest rivers to fetch water.

In the wet season this meant a two kilometer walk; in the dry season when the nearest river ran dry they walked another kilometer to a larger river. The well's yield is fairly low, so a second well is planned as well as a latrine for every household.

The community's water and sanitation committee is also promoting good hygiene practices such as the burial of rubbish to further reduce the risk of disease.