ASSESSMENT OF HOUSEHOLDS’ VULNERABILITY TO WATER SCARCITY IN FUNE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Access to safe, portable and adequate domestic water is an essential human right, emphasized in the public
policies, treaties and constitutes huge challenges to water-scarce regions such as the semi-arid Nigeria.
This region is an environment of variable rainfall, intense water scarcity due to lack of water infrastructure,
increasing populations, extreme poverty and high occurrence of extreme climatic events, which adversely
affect the socio-economically disadvantaged population. Thus, this study examined the relationship
between domestic water scarcity variables and socio-economic characteristics of households in Fune Local
Government Area of Yobe State, a rural semi-arid State of Nigeria. Stratified and systematic-random
sampling techniques were used to generate the study data. The data were then summarized using basic
descriptive statistics, while relationship among households’ socio-economic characteristics and domestic
water scarcity variables were examined using inferential statistics. The result revealed that there is a
common reliance of households on unimproved water sources, while water collection for households’ use
is usually shouldered by women and girls. The daily water availability is grossly short of the demands,
revealing vulnerability to scarcity. The correlation test of households’ characteristics and domestic water
scarcity variables showed that household income is positively but insignificantly related with water
availability for households use, while household size is perfectly but negatively correlated with water
availability, educational status of household head is positively correlated with water availability. Finding a
lasting solution to water scarcity in the area require increased budgetary allocations to and investments in
rural water supply sector and sustained management of the water facilities for the communities by
Government, international development partners and relevant institutions for improved households’
livelihoods, income and reduced poverty in the area.