Evaluation of Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure in Rural Communities of Benue State

This study evaluates the condition, functionality, and coverage of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in selected rural communities in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. Benue State experiences among the highest rates of waterborne disease in the North Central zone, and inadequate rural water supply and sanitation infrastructure is widely recognised as a primary contributing factor. A cross-sectional infrastructure assessment was conducted in twenty rural communities across Makurdi, Gwer West, and Ushongo Local Government Areas using structured observation protocols, functionality surveys of existing water points, and household sanitation assessment. Data collected include borehole operational status, pump functionality, community water management committee activity, latrine coverage, and open defecation prevalence. Findings indicate that 42 percent of assessed boreholes are non-functional at the time of survey, primarily due to pump breakdown without available maintenance response. Piped scheme coverage is limited to two of the twenty communities. Latrine coverage averages 38 percent of households, with open defecation widely practised in twelve communities. Functional community water management committees exist in only six communities, and none of the non-functional boreholes have active repair plans. Women and girls travel an average of 1.8 kilometres to access the nearest functional water point. The study concludes that infrastructure investment alone, without sustained maintenance and governance support, is insufficient to achieve rural water security. Recommendations include a community water management training programme and the establishment of a Benue State rural WASH maintenance fund. Keywords: rural water supply, sanitation, borehole functionality, Benue State, WASH infrastructure.