The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is naturally endowed with abundant natural resources
especially water, oil and gas. Despite the availability of fresh water, the region has been
struggling with acute potable water shortage since 1980s. Presently statistics show that water
available to individual declined from 18.9litres in 1986 to less than 10litres per day among
50% of the urban population. To combat water shortage various governments within the
region set up water corporations to manage this important resource. This paper studied the
availability, accessibility and affordability of water in the light of the National water policy.
The study employed various methodological approaches. Data on historical and traditional
water management strategies were obtained from the national Archives and other water
related public agencies. Information on water shortage and other water crisis issues were
obtained. For the primary data, a household survey Questionnaire was structured to collect
information on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, availability and
affordability of potable water. Using systematic sampling procedure twelve cities (Akwa
Ibom and Cross River state) were sampled. A total of 400 households were selected based on
household population of the areas. To ascertain potability of water, samples from identified
sources were collected for bacteriological and physic-chemical test which were then
compared with the water co operations and WHO standards. The study shows acute
inadequacy of potable water due to administrative issues in the water management especially
funds and equipment. To survive, the residents now depend almost entirely on streams/rivers and boreholes. In order to strengthen water supply and make it affordable, the paper
recommends the adoption of Integrated Water Resource Management.