Nestlé, FG Launch Nationwide Campaign Against Unsafe Water

The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nestlé Nigeria Plc have launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about unsafe water and promote water safety education. The initiative, in partnership with the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), aims to shift the conversation from mere access to water quality, safety, and sustainability.

The campaign was introduced at a National Training of Trainers workshop, where government officials, technical experts, and stakeholders gathered to build a network of personnel who can disseminate water safety knowledge to various levels of society. The Water Quality Handbook, unveiled during the event, serves as a comprehensive technical guide covering various aspects of water quality management, from source protection to household water treatment and reporting concerns to authorities.

The handbook was designed to establish standard procedures and provide a unified national approach to water quality management. The training workshop emphasized the importance of converting technical provisions into practical knowledge that can be applied across the country. The campaign's success will depend on effectively transferring this knowledge from trained personnel to communities.

Nestlé Nigeria's Water Regeneration Project, one aspect of the initiative, aims to provide 400,000 cubic metres of water annually to communities in two catchment areas. Community participation is crucial to the project's success, with communities involved throughout the process to ensure ownership and sustained benefits. The Water Quality Handbook, launched in April 2026, is not just a policy document but a practical tool to educate Nigerians about the water they consume, its health and economic impacts, and appropriate household practices for ensuring safe water.