ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR WATER SUPPLY IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study assessed the activities of a government-owned water agency in Osun state, highlighting the management set-up. It identified the major sources of water supply in the Ede; examined the major institutions responsible for water supply in Ede; it also analyzed the current water demand, supply and accessibility status in the study area and identified the major challenges and causes of unsustainable water supply in the study area. Ede comprises of two local government areas which are Ede North and Ede South. The projected population figure for the study area using the 2006 population figures and a growth rate of 3.25% (NPC) up to year 2018 is approximately 123,037 for Ede North; 110,838 for Ede South. Therefore, the overall projected population of the Ede for 2018 is 233875. 0.5% of population of each local government area in the study area was calculated. Thereafter, using the calculated population, the sample size of the study was calculated using Yamane formula n= 1+N(e)2 Where n is the sample size, N is the population size, and e is the desired level of precision. This gives a total of 1169 questionnaires that were administered in the study area. A total survey method was adopted for the administration of institutional questionnaire and all the six (6) Directors and Deputy Directors of Osun State Water Corporation and Ede Waterworks were interviewed. Ede town was divided into three zones; they include; the urban core, transitional zone and urban periphery. A basic assumption made with respect to the populations of these zones was that 50% of the total population live in the city core while 35% and 15% live in the peripheral neighborhood to the core and the suburb, respectively while 409 (35%) and 175 (15%) questionnaires were administered in the transitional zone and urban periphery respectively. Results from the from the analysis shows that the major source of public water supply to cities and towns in Osun State is Erinle river on which Erinle dam was constructed. Osun state government made water supply possible through the Osun State Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs and this is been controlled by the Osun State Water Corporation. The agency is facing challenges ranging from low manpower, insufficient fund, epileptic power supply, aged equipment, low water coverage, poor pricing system among others. The study therefore recommends that there should be increase in manpower, budget and fund increase, there should be alternative source of power, and extension of water pipe network, equitable distribution, there should also be community participation and adoption of public private partnership.