Mapping Accessibility to Potable Water and Sanitation Infrastructure in Rural Kwara State

Improving access to potable water and sanitation in rural Kwara State is a primary development priority in Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone, yet systematic spatial data on facility locations, coverage gaps, and functionality remain insufficient to guide evidence-based infrastructure investment decisions. This study produces a comprehensive geospatial map of potable water and sanitation infrastructure across rural Kwara State, assessing accessibility and functionality to identify investment priorities. Water and sanitation facility data from 1,240 water points and 820 sanitation facilities across 12 rural local government areas were collected through GPS-based field surveys, updating and extending the Kwara State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector database. Functionality audits assessed pump operability, water quality, and user satisfaction at each facility. GIS network analysis was used to compute population-weighted accessibility metrics using ward-level population estimates. Open defecation prevalence data from the 2022 National Water and Sanitation Survey were integrated to assess sanitation coverage gaps at ward level. Results indicate that 44 percent of surveyed water points are non-functional at the time of survey, with pump breakdown and community management failures as the primary causes. Women and children bear the greatest burden of water access deficits, reflected in an average daily water-fetching time of 52 minutes for households without functional facilities within 500 metres. The lowest sanitation coverage rates are recorded in Edu and Kaiama LGAs, which also show the highest open defecation prevalence. Recommendations include a systematic maintenance programme, community water management committee strengthening, and prioritised sanitation investment in lowest-coverage wards. Keywords: potable water, sanitation, rural infrastructure, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.