Integrated Water Security, Public Health Resilience, and Sustainable Governance in Nigeria: A Systems-Based Review of Domestic Water Access and Climate Adaptation

Access to safe, affordable, and sustainable domestic water remains one of the major public health and development challenges confronting Nigeria despite the country’s extensive surface and groundwater resources. Rapid population growth, climate variability, urban expansion, poor infrastructure maintenance, weak institutional coordination, environmental degradation, and socio-economic inequality continue to intensify domestic water insecurity in rural and urban communities. The consequences
extend beyond inadequate household supply to increased transmission of waterborne diseases, poor sanitation, food insecurity, reduced school attendance, gender inequality, and diminished household productivity. This review synthesizes evidence on domestic water accessibility in Nigeria using a systems-based public health perspective that integrates environmental, institutional, infrastructural, technological, and behavioural determinants. A structured narrative review approach was adopted, drawing on peer-reviewed literature, national policy documents, and institutional reports published mainly between 2015 and 2026. Building on earlier Nigerian scholarship on recurring water scarcity, this paper proposes an Integrated Water Security-Public Health Resilience Model that links climate adaptation, water governance, infrastructure resilience, community participation, digital monitoring, household water safety, and public health outcomes. The review shows that fragmented governance, inadequate financing, poor maintenance culture, insufficient water quality surveillance, and limited climate adaptation remain major obstacles to equitable water access. It further demonstrates that women, children, low-income households, and rural populations bear a
disproportionate burden. The paper recommends climate-resilient infrastructure, Integrated Water Resources Management, community-owned systems, digital water governance, renewable-energypowered water supply, strengthened WASH integration in primary healthcare, and transparent institutional accountability. These strategies can support progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 while improving health equity and national resilience