Nigeria’s groundwater under threat: FUT Minna lecturer urges urgent action
Nigeria’s Groundwater Resources Face Critical Threats, Expert Warns
NIGERIA — Groundwater resources in Nigeria are increasingly jeopardized by declining water tables, pollution, overutilization, and climate change, according to Professor Idris-Nda Abdullahi of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
In his 119th Inaugural Lecture delivered on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the University Auditorium on the Main Campus, Professor Abdullahi called for immediate government reforms to ensure the protection and sustainable management of the nation’s aquifers.
Titled “Invisible but Indispensable: Groundwater, Wells, and the Environmental Legacy We Must Build,” the lecture emphasized the crucial role of groundwater in supporting human life, ecosystems, and economic development.
Approximately 60 percent of Nigerians depend on groundwater for drinking, he noted, with 73 percent of rural residents and 45 percent of urban dwellers relying on this resource. In Minna, the population is particularly dependent on boreholes and wells for domestic water supply.
“Groundwater is a hidden yet invaluable natural resource stored in aquifers beneath the Earth’s surface, replenished through rainfall infiltration,” Professor Abdullahi explained. He pointed out that despite water making up more than 70 percent of the planet, a limited amount constitutes freshwater, with groundwater serving as a significant portion of the accessible potable water.
During his lecture, Professor Abdullahi discussed modern exploration methods and best practices in well construction, while stressing the importance of professional hydrogeological oversight. He clarified common misconceptions, stating that groundwater does not flow in underground rivers and that deeper drilling does not necessarily result in greater water availability.
Linking groundwater to the Sustainable Development Goals, he highlighted its importance in addressing poverty, food security, public health, and sustainable urban development. The professor urged for stricter enforcement of policies, proper borehole licensing, professional supervision, enhanced water quality monitoring, climate-resilient infrastructure, and improved urban planning strategies aimed at safeguarding aquifers.
Professor Abdullahi urged policymakers, professionals, and communities to view groundwater as an essential environmental legacy for future generations.
In response, Vice-Chancellor Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta praised the lecture for addressing a timely and significant issue facing Nigeria. He described the presentation as intellectually stimulating and socially relevant, underlining the vital role of universities in producing research that informs public policy and supports national development.
