AN ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFORT ON THE PROVISION OF PORTABLE WATER SUPPLY IN BIDA LGA, NIGER STATE

Background of the study: Nigeria has a vast amount of surface and subterranean water resources, which necessitates a well-defined administrative system capable of properly managing the resources. Nigeria's current water supply situation is woefully insufficient (Uwais, 2004). Through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), River Basin Authorities, DFRRI, National Water Supply Rehabilitation Project, National Borehole Program, and, of course, the current government's Legislative Boreholes, the Federal, State, and Local Governments have intervened from time to time in terms of providing potable water to the people. Despite these efforts, the availability of drinkable water remains low and insufficient. In actuality, Nigeria's water supply problem is massive, and it can only be remedied by taking a well-coordinated approach to the problem.

Water supply is at the center of development, whether urban or rural, according to Babatola (1997), Offodile (2003, 2006), Nwankwoala &Mmom (2008). Water supply and development in any country is a long-term process that needs careful planning and implementation aimed at improving living circumstances. As a result, the present water policy should be overhauled/reviewed, or a new national water policy should be developed, which would include a full hydro geological mapping of the country. The exercise must be based on well-known sources of groundwater and surface water (Mobogunje, 1975). According to Uwais (2004), man cannot survive for longer periods of time without food than he can without water. However, because water is abundantly supplied through rains, man has taken this rare resource for granted until lately.

Despite the fact that water covers more than 70% of the earth's surface, it has become a limited resource in many parts of the world. In the face of rising demand, sparse supply, and worsening quality owing to overexploitation, the possibility of a global water catastrophe is becoming more apparent. A sufficient quantity of water for drinking, personal cleanliness, and other household functions is widely recognized as critical to public health and well-being. It is a well-known reality that a vast number of people in Nigeria, particularly those in rural areas, lack access to clean portable drinking water; around 90% of rural communities in Nigeria lack access to portable water for household purposes (Uwais, 2004).