MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA(A STUDY OF RIVERS STATE WATER BOARD)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria is blessed by nature with a lot of natural resources amongst which water is one of them; WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) confirmed that Nigeria was blessed with abundant water resources, the excess of which has been causing flood and erosion in many part of the country.  However, the distribution of this water resources was not evenly spread over the country, life and other agricultural activities every year irrespective of the draught that frequently occur in the Northern part of the country of course, man had been obtaining water for domestic and other purposes since man’s creation.  Water supply can therefore be said to be as old as man itself. In spite of the availability of resource, WHO (1976) maintained that “its supply to the majority of the population especially, the rural areas is very much inadequate”.

Rural water supply simply defined as a wide category of scheme ranging from a well width buchet supplying water to a few isolated but to river pumping scheme from such a simple treatment as communal stand pipes to tap in individuals homes and provisions for livestock and vegetable gardens.

ILO (1991), however stated that various traditional means of obtaining water has been developed by individual and communities for many centuries and that some of these systems were very much in use by various communities both rural and urban.

The United Nations Economic commission for Africa (1973) confirmed that it was only about 20% of the population of Nigeria that have access to portable water supply.  It further stated that majority of these people are those that are living in the urban and semi urban area of the country and that even the privileged places that has access to such facilities were not being served sufficiently.

Thus the need for the provision of adequate water supply and sanitation is highly appreciated.  And this had promoted the choice of the topic on the Management and Operational Problems of Rural Water Supply in Nigeria, a case study of Rivers state water board, with a view to recommending solutions which if implemented, would help to solve these problems and better still alleviate the suffering of the people as it relates to accessibility to portable water supply.

The Water board was originally charged with the statutory responsibility of supplying drinking water to all the urban as well as the rural communities .  The general manager is responsible for the day to day running of the corporation, while the Board of Directors or the Commissioner of the controlling ministry in the absence of the Governing Board is responsible for policy matters only. It stated that the corporation is presently operating up to eleven (11) zonal offices in the state. The corporation is principally maintained by the government through subventions and budget allocation for capital projects and from internally generated revenue, water tariffs, sales, fees etc, for its day to day operations.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Rivers State has been without adequate supply of potable water.  This portable water supply inadequacies being experienced in the rural communities of Rivers have been brought about many factors.  Despite the huge sums of money being spent in this rural water supply, water is still very inadequate.

1. It has been difficult for the society to understand the extent of the aims and objectives for setting up the water board.
2. Another problem is whether the resources (both human and material) are adequate.
3. The attitude of water consumers has also constituted problems.
4. The instability in government and constant changes in leadership, have not helped matters.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this research project on the management and operational problems of rural water supply in Nigeria, a case study of Rivers state water board to investigate the followings;

1. The extent to which the aims and objective of rural water supply programme are being achieved in Nigeria with particular reference to rural communities.
2. To find out the extent of adequacy and suitability of materials and human resources for change in rural water supply programme.
3. To ascertain the extent to which the changes in government and leadership affect the steady water supply.
4. To find out the extent to which the management and operational problems affect the functionality of the rural water supply service in Nigeria with particular reference to Rivers State.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The issue of the benefits in effective and increased water supply in the rural areas of Rivers state cannot be overemphasized as it has been stated earlier.  Inadequate water supply coupled by sanitation had been the bare of rural communities in Nigeria.

1. It is however hoped that the research of management and operational problems of rural water in rural area will provide information, which if utilized, will help in finding solution to the above problem.
2. The information gathered from this study is also expected to serve as a basic for social policy decisions which will enable the government to designs specific policies that will be beneficial to the community and will improve and enhances the efficiency of water supply in Nigeria.
3. It is also hoped that participation in this research project will help to burden the knowledge of the researcher, in the field of management & operation.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

To guide this study five research questions were raised, they include the following.

1. What are the characteristics of rural water staff and socio-economic characteristic of rural household?
2. To what extent are the aims and objectives of rural water supply programme being achieved in water co-operation?
3. How adequate and suitable are the materials and human resources for change in rural water supply programme in Rivers State?
4. To what extent does the management and operational problems affect the functionality of rural water supply services in Rivers State?
5. To what extent do the changes government and leadership affect the management of Rivers State water Board?

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS:

The following research hypothesis were formulated to help the

Researcher solves the problems.

H1: The aims and the objectives of rural water supply programmes are being achieved in Rivers State Water Board.

H0: The aims and objectives of rural water supply programmes are not being achieved in Rivers State Water Board.

H2: There are adequate materials and human resources for change in water supply programme in Nigeria.

H0: There are inadequate materials and human resources for change in water supply programme in Nigeria.

H3: Management and Operational problem affect the functionality of rural water supply services.

H0: Management and Operational problem does not affect the functionality of rural water supply services.

H4: Change in government and leadership affect the Management of Rivers State Water Board.

H0: Change in government and leadership does not affect the Management of Rivers State Water Board.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study focuses on Management and Operational problems of rural water supply in Nigeria. Is accessibility, the researchers effort will be centered on Rivers State Water Board in Nigeria.

During the research, a lot of constraints were encountered and they somehow delayed the progress of this work. These constraints are as follows:

TIME: This is one of the factors that hindered the smooth running if this research work as the researcher was given only a study semester to cover his population and this became difficult for the researcher owing to the fact that he still had other things to attend to in the same little time frame- like quiz, lectures, assignments etc.

LACK OF RESEARCH MATERIALS:

Unavailability of books and other research instruments also hindered the smooth progress of this study owing to the obvious fact that no relevant research material connecting to this study was easily traced and the ones found were sketchy.

ATTITUDE OF RESPONDENTS:

The researcher encountered in this work negative attitude of some respondents. These small measures hampered the progress of this work, while some were willing to answer, others were reluctant and few were adamant, thereby delaying the speedy conduct of the research.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Management could be defined as a “social process entailing responsibilities for an effective planning and regulations of operation of an enterprise in fulfilment of a given purpose or task such responsibilities involves (a) judgment and decision in determining plans and progress against plans and guidance integration, motivation and supervision.

Operation means the way something works or come into operation or being used.

Also, Management in Business and organization means to coordinate the efforts of people to accomplish goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively.

Operational is a result of the proves of operationalization and is used to define something (e.g. a variable item or object) in terms of process (or set of validation tests) needed to determine its existence, duration and quantity. While Operation is the state of being operating or functional and also seen as a process or series of acts involved in a particular form of work.