Social Inequality and Access to Clean Water in Rural Yobe State

Access to clean drinking water is both a public health concern and a social justice issue, with rural communities in Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone disproportionately burdened by water scarcity. This study examines how social inequalities shape access to clean water among rural households in Yobe State. A descriptive survey was conducted using structured questionnaires administered to 310 households across Potiskum, Bade, and Nguru local government areas. The Capability Approach of Amartya Sen was applied as the theoretical framework. Results reveal that only 31% of surveyed households had reliable access to potable water within 500 meters of their homes, far below the national target. Wealthier households were 4.1 times more likely to have private borehole access than poor households. Women and girls bore disproportionate water-fetching burdens, with 68% of female respondents spending more than two hours daily on water collection. The quality of water from communal sources tested during the survey indicated contamination levels exceeding WHO thresholds in 57% of cases. Seasonal variation intensified water insecurity during the dry season from November to April, with 74% of households reporting reduced daily water volumes. Patron-client relationships between community leaders and water infrastructure contractors were identified as a source of inequitable infrastructure placement favoring higher-status neighborhoods. Recommendations include community-led water governance committees with mandatory female representation, government borehole maintenance funding, and independent water quality monitoring in Yobe's rural local government areas. Keywords: clean water access, social inequality, Yobe State, rural households, gender burden.