Nigeria's Public Water Not Safe For Consumption - Survey

A Daily Trust independent water investigation reveals germs which are harmful to human health.
Water samples obtained from different locations in Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna indicated the presence of microbiological organisms that exceeded the maximum permissible level by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) limits.

Daily Trust had conducted an analysis of public water from seven states including Enugu, Plateau, Katsina and Kano states at different testing centres.

Water sample taken from Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Tuesday, April 4 and tested at the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna showed “20 cfu/100ml of Thermotolerant Coliform which exceeded the 0cfu/100ml maximum permissible level (mpl) by the WHO and the Nigerian Industrial Standard 554: 2007.”

Thermotolerant Coliform are the commonly used bacterial indicator for sanitary quality of water.
Also, the Total Coliform in the sample was 37cfu/ml, which exceeded the maximum permissible level of 10cfu/ml by the WHO and NSDWQ.

The American Public Health Association (19th Edition) was used in the testing while it showed some potential pathogenic (diseases causing) organisms from faecal and environmental origins.

The analysis signed by the institute’s head, Water Supply and Sanitation, Ahmed Salisu Hassan, and analysed by Agboola Irene Omolara, revealed that the values of faecal coliform and total coliforms indicator organisms are above the standard guideline values recommended for drinking water.

The source of disease causing organisms, according to the analysts, might be the water board treated water; dirty storage tank(s); inappropriate sample collection, sample handling, contaminated sample container; possible insanitary condition of surroundings leaking service pipe(s) and or combination of both.

According to the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 554:2007) by NSDWQ, the health impact of drinking water that exceeded the maximum limits of Total Coliform Count and Thermotolerant Coliform include, “urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, diarrhoea, (one of the main cause of morbidity and mortality among children), acute renal failure and haemolytic anaemia.”

Dr. J. Abdulrasheed, a medical practitioner in Ilorin, Kwara State, corroborated the provisions of the Nigeria Industrial Standard stated above.

The result of water sample from Lagos taken from 26, Dairo Street, Ketu, also shows presence of germs, thereby not safe for human consumption.

“The water sample was found to be acidic. It had high aerobic mesophilic count, Coliform and Escherichia coli,” said Martins Etaduovie, the analyst from a private laboratory that conducted the analysis.

The analysis showed that there were 148CFU/ml counts of aerobic mesophilic organism which exceeded the 102 limit by the NIS 306:2008 for potable water used by the laboratory.

The Kaduna sample was collected from Babandodo Street, Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area and from the result, the level of Thermotolerant Coliform and Coliform are too numerous to count, making it totally unsafe for human.

The test which was also carried out at the National Water Institute, Kaduna used the American Public Health Association (19th Edition) in the analysis and indicated total coliforms indicator organisms above the standard guideline recommended for drinking water.

The results for Abuja and Kaduna, however, showed the colour and appearance are at acceptable level, while the levels of chemical inorganic constituents are also good. The analysis also indicated that the sample had clear appearance, un-objectional colour and lower turbidity characteristics in comparison with the maximum permissible level recommended for drinking water, which signifies the water is aesthetically acceptable.

Also, the water, according to the analysis, will not lead to wastage of soap during cleansing and scale formation on hot water boilers due to lower concentration of hardness causing substances.

“The water board treated water will not lead to elevation of blood pressure due to very low concentration of salinity in comparison with the standard guideline value recommended for drinking water,” it reads.

The analysis from Kano and Katsina shows that the water is safe for drinking with the required level of constituents. However, the maximum permitted limits for Thermotolerant Coliform in the results from the two states read 10cfu/100ml instead of the 0cfu/100ml by the WHO and NSDWQ guidelines.

The Kano sample had 0.2cfu/100ml while Katsina had 0.31cfu/100ml.The sample from Kano, taken from Giginyu, Nasarawa Local Government Area, was submitted to the privately owned laboratory on April 12.

“Based on the analysis carried out, the result of all the parameters is within the WHO guide limit and the NSDWQ most probable limit. And therefore, the Water is safe for drinking,” Ilyasu Rabiu Isihak, the scientific officer of the private laboratory in Shagari Quarters, off Zoo Road, Kano used for the analysis said.

But the analysis showed that the maximum permissible levels of Thermotolerant Coliform to be 10cfu/100ml instead of 0cfu/100ml as recommended by the WHO and NSDWQ.

While making clarification via telephone, Mr. Isihak said, “I will wish to correct some writing, the coli (thermotolerant coliform) are unwanted because recent literatures have shown that should be unwanted contrary to what was indicated there,” he said.

He, however, said the water was still safe because, “the Thermotolerant Coliform was 0.2cfu/100ml as the sample from Kano while the sample from Katsina had 0.31cfu/100ml. which is less than 0.5 which is less than one. If you round off the number it is still zero, so the water is still safe for drinking.”

However, the sample from Enugu tested at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Zonal Office, Enugu showed that the sample taken from Edinburgh Road, Enugu was safe for drinking.

The result signed by the laboratory manager, Ogochukwu Ene, said the water was safe for drinking and other domestic or industrial activities.

The Total Coliform Count, E.coli and Enterococci are all at 0cfu.The sample was taken to the laboratory on April 4 and the result released on April 11.

The sample collected from British America Junction, off Murtala Mohammed Way, Jos, Plateau State was however free from harmful germs.

The sample collected on Thursday, April 20 was analysed at the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna met the WHO and NSDWQ maximum permissible level for all parameters.

The analyst, Samuel Joyce Yemisi, said the good quality treated water will require pipe leakage surveillance to ensure protection against contaminant flow.

“The treated water at British America Junction off Murtala Mohammed way is suitable for domestic supply since all the necessary parameters analysed are within the standard guideline recommended for drinking water.

“However, it is imperative to improve the total residual concentration due to possible pipe(s) leakage, protection against pathogenic contaminants flow and safeguarding health of the teaming population of the area,” the report was also signed by the Ahmed Saliu Hassan, the head, Water Supply and Sanitation at the institute.

Results can’t be generalised –FCT water board
The Director, Federal Capital Territory Water Board, Hudu Bello, said the board did not compromise standard, assuring that the all parameters are verified by professionals at the board before water was dispensed to the residents.

He said the microbiological organisms might have entered the water sampled while it was been taken at the point or through the container it was taken to the laboratory.

But Mr. Toyin Ishola, the water engineer, said what should be paramount to the public water handlers should be the safety of the water running at homes and not only at the treatment plants.

Bello however, said the analysis of the result from a point cannot be generalised on all other service points. “This is just a particular area, this is a localised issue which would not have been there if you had gone back the same day,” he said.

He said it could not have been from the treatment plant and if it was localised, the hygiene of the people around that place might have contributed to it, assuring that there could not have been contamination in other areas. This is a localised post treatment contamination which cannot be said to be true reflection of water from the board.

The source said the board does not allow any contamination and if any contamination was discovered through analysis, people are stopped from using the water while the board usually supply them water with water tankers until the cause was rectified.

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Non-O Blood Group Increases Heart Attack Risk

Scientists have alerted that people with a non-O blood group have a slightly increased risk of heart attack and stroke. According to findings in a new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology, scientists stated that this could be because higher levels of a blood-clotting protein are present in people with A, B and AB blood.


The findings could help doctors better understand who is at risk of developing heart disease, the researchers said.

A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on the presence and absence of antibodies and also based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs).

These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system.

The new research analysed studies involving 1.3 million people and found that 15 in 1,000 people with a non-O blood group suffered a heart attack, compared to 14 in 1,000 people with blood group O.

Although the increase in risk was small, when applied to a whole population the numbers become more important. Previous research found that people with the rarest blood group – AB – were the most vulnerable, being 23 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease.

There are a number of factors which can increase the risk of heart disease, such as smoking, being overweight and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

Which group an individual belongs to is determined by the genes inherited from both parents. Study author, Tessa Kole, from the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Netherlands, said more research was needed to work out the cause of the increased cardiovascular, CDV, risk in people with a non-O blood group. She stated that looking at the risk for each individual blood group would help.

She said: “In future, blood group should be considered in risk assessment for CDV prevention, together with cholesterol, age, sex and systolic blood pressure.”

People with blood group A – who are known to have higher cholesterol – may need a lower treatment threshold for high blood pressure, for example.

The analysis looked at coronary events in more than 770,000 people with a non-O blood group and more than 510,000 people with an O blood group.

Around 1.5 per cent in the first group and 1.4 per cent in the second experienced a heart attack or angina.

They also looked at CDV events in 708,000 people with non-O blood and 476,000 with O blood, which affected 2.5 per cent and 2.3 per cent of each group respectively.

When the researchers looked at fatal heart events, they found no major difference in risk between the O and non-O blood groups.

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Over 15 Million Nigerians Suffering From Asthma - Expert

Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Professor Etete Peters, has disclosed that over 15 million Nigerian are suffering from asthma caused by air pollution.

Professor Peters, who is also the President of Nigeria Thoracic Society, NTS, made the disclosure, in Uyo on the occasion of 2017 World Asthma Day.

He said that air pollution was an important trigger for asthma, adding that most common causes of air pollution in Nigeria include biomass fumes, cigarette smoke and motor vehicles exhaust. He explained that studies have shown that the environment has huge impact on asthma exacerbation whether from cigarette smoke or pollution within the atmosphere.

This he noted, underscores the theme of this year’s celebration, Asthma-Better Air, Better Breathing. ‘’We should wage war against cigarette smoking, provide services to help current smokers quit and prevent initiation of cigarette smoking in our population.

‘’Asthma is much more common than we think, we need to see health providers if we have any symptoms suggestive of asthma.” Professor Peters added that asthma could be well managed and person with a diagnosis can live a normal life.

“Its symptoms include recurrent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, which is worse when exercising or in the night and can be relaxed with bronchodilator.

“These symptoms escalate when the patient has acute illness, breathlessness, anxiiety, restlessness and a sweaty child turns bluish because there is insufficient oxygen in the blood.”

 ‘’The key to good health is to take medications as prescribed and avoid all known trigger and promptly seek medical treatment if symptoms persist despite taking prescribed medications.”

He disclosed that the Nigeria Thoracic Society, as an umbrella body of all professionals involved in respiratory care has over the years committed its self to regular and continuous update of its members and health workers in general on the management of airways diseases, including asthma.

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"Herbal Medicines Have No Side Effects" - Obiora Atuchukwu, CEO Ako Group Of Companies

In the global battle to sustain health care, herbal medicines have consistently proven to be very efficacious and effective in treating several deadly conditions because of the natural properties they possess.

Chief Executive Officer of Ako Group of Companies, Obiora Atuchukwu, whose firm is the sole marketer of two of the most active Indian herbal medicines for diabetes and piles, asserts that herbal medicines do not have side effects.


For this reason, Atuchukwu says that he remains committed to fighting deadly diseases with natural medicines, which he noted are very safe.


He posited that he chose to start with medications for diabetes, piles and urinal tract infections because they are prevalent and have caused more harm in the African society.


Atuchukwu also stated that his decision to combat diabetes was informed by the recognition, as certified by the World Health Organisation, WHO, that diabetes is the eight most deadly disease in the world because it is common among people in low to middle income countries of the world, ranking after diarrhea, which is the 7th deadliest disease and second killer of children under five years.


Atuchukwu explained that diabetes is a group of diseases that affect insulin production and use. “In Type-1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. However, the cause is not known.”


According to him, in Type-2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or it cannot be used effectively. “Research says that Type-2 diabetes can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.”

The Indian ayurvedic medicine dealer also expressed that diabetes can be managed in so many ways, especially with the use of natural medicines like Dykure, which is effective for treatment of diabetes without side effects.

Atuchukwu also explained that it is necessary to do a quick body scan against diabetes miletus, as prevention is better than cure. “After taking bath daily, check your body from head to toe, look for cuts, sores, blisters, and in-grown toenails.”

He also advised that one should not forget the places where moisture can hide and germs can grow in the body. “Check under your arms and breasts, and between your legs and toes.

Look extra closely at your feet and use a mirror to help you see all over. And if you have cuts or scrapes, treat them quickly. Also, take a moment to moisturize dry skin.”

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Deep Slow Breathing Reduces Blood Pressure - Experts

With the number of Nigerians suffering hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) being on the rise, medical experts said learning how to regulate breathing could be the cure if the condition is diagosed early enough.

According to a new study published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’, researchers at the University of Melbourne and Macquarie University, in Australia, stated that the neurons, which control breathing also control blood pressure and, therefore, breathing deeply can help to lower blood pressure levels Hypertension has been labelled a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke.

High blood pressure is a common disease in which blood flows through blood vessels (arteries) at higher than normal pressures.One in three adults worldwide is affected by high blood pressure and implicated in over 18 per cent of death globally, but according to the World Health Organisation WHO, the number of Nigerians living with high blood pressure is estimated at about 56 million.

“It causes blindness, irregular heartbeat or eventual heart failure. It can be countered by reducing high salt intake and high calorie food and avoiding sedentary (inactive) lifestyle.”
The researchers said it was vital that effort is placed into identifying people at risk early before it’s too late. The ‘mailonline’ reports that breathing and blood pressure are functionally linked through the sympathetic nervous system, which sends signals to the heart and blood vessels.

 The researchers discovered that when neural activity was interrupted in young adults, they could control blood pressure. The altered neural activity leads to increased fluctuations in blood pressure with every breath taken.

“By interrupting the activity between these two groups of neurons during adolescence, we were able to dramatically reduce development of high blood pressure in adulthood,’ said lead researcher Professor Andrew Allen of the University of Melbourne. Professor Allen added that the research paralleled what professional athletes and eastern philosophies have long understood about the link between breathing and heart rate.

“Biathletes have to regulate their breathing to slow down their heart rate before rifle shooting, and eastern meditative practices such as yoga and pranayama have always emphasised the interaction between the two,’ he said.

Biathletes are people engaging in winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

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Over 70 percent Of Nigerians Depend On Traditional Medicine - Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, MD/CEO Healthcare Herbal Products

(Being the concluding part of the interview between Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, the founder of Healthcare Herbal Products, and Nigeria Natural Health Online’s editor, Dumbiri Frank Eboh. The second and the first part were published on Wednesday and last Saturday respectively)

Government Can Still Do More For The Nigerian Herbal Industry

It is true that government is trying it’s best to promote the herbal industry in Nigeria; but I think it can still do more for that sector of the economy. And that is why Healthcare Herbal Products has taken the initiative to launch an advocacy for State government in the country to bring out policies that will encourage and promote the practice of natural and herbal medicine in their respective states. This will make every state to develop their own medicinal plants; there should be medicinal gardens in every state. Practitioners in the industry should also be registered; they should be brought together so that training and retraining programmes can be organized for them. The experts among them should be invited to set up the system in different places, this will go a long way in safeguarding the health of the people and reduce, if not eliminate, the incidence of quackery and excessive claims by people who just want to sell anything to the unsuspecting public. Some of this people bring out a product and say it can care a thousand and one ailments, which is untrue of course but it is still happening in many rural communities in Nigeria.

But if government brings in openness and infrastructure, the situation will improve. Government can even set up a laboratory where practitioners will come and do their tests. Most of these people do not have the money to go to private labs to do their test. This will also help to gain the confidence of most traditional medicine practitioners most of whom are hiding their formulas for fear that these formulas might be stolen if they should go to private labs to do their tests.

Over 70 percent Of Nigerians Depend On Traditional Medicine

Developing traditional medicine in Nigeria is very important because it is a sector that is taking care of over 70 percent of the Nigerian population.

This is glaring because of the poor health system in this country. What is the strength of our health system? How many Doctors and Hospitals do we have for the entire population of Nigeria which is over 180 million people?

The TBAs (Traditional Birth Attendants) are also playing a major role in our rural communities. Many deliveries are taking place by TBAs in the rural areas. These should be trained so that we can reduce infant and maternal mortality. Women suffer a lot in rural areas because there are no hospitals, there are no maternities. I once worked in a state where I was a member of the hospital management board and I was the Chairman of the district. The Oba of that town said one of the seven things he wanted to achieve for his people was to have a health centre and I eventually helped him in achieving that. It was even one of the things that CNN documented when they came here to interview me. In that town, the women usually trekked a long distance before they could get health care which of course is not good especially for heavily pregnant women that are near delivery. But the story has now changed for the people of that town called Imota, located near Ikorodu in Lagos.

So government can train TBAs and give them delivery kits to enhance their practice. Some of them are using blades that are not sterilized to cut umbilical cord which could lead to tetanus. If proper care is not taken, both mother and baby could be infected with life threatening diseases. Indeed there need to be a collaboration between traditional medicine Practitioners and government in terms of establishing centers where practitioners can access them.

The China Example

In China when you get to a hospital, you can decide whether you want to see an orthodox doctor or a traditional medicine practitioner in that same hospital. All you do is make your choice. If one of them cannot do it, you are referred to the other. You find that traditional medicine now uses modern technology, practitioners now use labs, they now tell their patients to go and do scan. They don’t just throw something on the floor to diagnose your ailment as it was done in the past. Now they use X-ray, they use ultrasound. Same way, orthodox doctors are also integrating herbal medicine into their practice. So you may say that the orthodox are practicing traditional medicine while the traditional medicine practitioners are practicing orthodox medicine. This kind of collaboration is called Complementary Medicine and it is the way to go in our present society. We also tell traditional medicine practitioners not to go beyond their bounds; they should not go into surgery in other not to endanger lives.

So, there should be a clear goal and objectives for government at various levels to enhance the practice of herbal medicine with clear goals and clear vision. And I think the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is doing something in this respect the Federal Ministry of Health is also on it. At the global level, there is a proper recognition of natural medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO). There is even a day approved by the WHO to celebrate natural medicine; it is called Traditional Medicine Day.

It is expected to be celebrated every August in every country. It is left for individual government to key into it and implement it. Indeed if we must achieve health for all, it has to be through traditional medicine because it is cost effective. But government must ensure that practitioners meet standard requirement.      

Healthcare Herbal Products In The Near Future

We see Healthcare Herbal Products becoming a household name, we see it becoming the first port of call for users, we see it distributed in every pharmaceutical shops in Nigeria. We see it being prescribed by doctors across the country. We also have a plan to have our own institutes so that we can do more research and training programmes. That way, whenever we talk of herbal Healthcare in Nigeria, we will be the flagship brand in the country.

Of course there are big brands currently in the country; they are doing very great and I commend them. But at Healthcare, we are positioning our brand as natural herbal solution with a scientific foundation. That actually is the difference between us and the crowd.

We also have a publication that educates people on health and wellness. It is the first health magazines in Nigeria, its started in 1986 and has been running for 31 years. It was the magazine that actually gave rise to the product because people were saying they had read the articles but they wanted something that would help them tackle there health issues some of which orthodox medicine could not tackle. That was how we decided to look into that area in order to bring genuine change and relief for the people. And ever since, it’s been a wonderful experience. Our dream is not just to be the best in the country but to spread all over Africa.

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