‘Water crisis threatens Nigeria’s economic growth’

Nigeria is facing a water crisis that is jeopardizing its economic growth, according to organizers of the international exhibition Stories of a Broken Water Cycle. The event, set to take place from October 8 to 22, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark, will bring together various stakeholders to discuss the challenges and solutions surrounding the country's water management.

Nigeria is described as a "water paradise" while simultaneously experiencing severe water stress, with the issue not solely based on the physical presence or absence of water, but how the resource is managed, connected, financed and sustained. Trustee and CEO of Lokoja Dialogues, Polly Alakija, emphasized that water insecurity could increasingly affect economic activity if the systems supporting access, distribution, and sustainability are not strengthened.

The exhibition will highlight the critical role water plays across various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and urban development, and how disruptions in water supply can raise operating costs, undermine livelihoods, and discourage investment. The event will also examine the economic burden of water insecurity on women, who often bear the responsibility for household water collection and management.

Climate-related disruptions are already impacting economic livelihoods, as seen in communities around the Nguru wetlands, where declining water availability and disruptions to fishing and agriculture have affected traditional sources of income.