10 million schoolchildren at risk as 161 million Nigerians rely on unsafe water — SCI

June 17, 2026

By Sola Ogundipe

More than 161 million Nigerians still depend on contaminated water sources, exposing millions of children to preventable diseases that disrupt their education and threaten their future, according to Save the Children International (SCI).

The organisation highlighted the scale of the challenge as Nigeria joined other African countries in commemorating the 2026 Day of the African Child on June 16. The event, themed “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” focused attention on the persistent lack of access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services across the continent.

In a statement marking the occasion, SCI said about seven in every 10 Nigerian children lack access to basic WASH services. It noted that only 26.5 per cent of the population has access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities, while more than 10 million pupils attend schools without basic sanitation.