Abstract

Water is an essential commodity with an unparalleled value after air. This paper is designed to assess the spatial pattern and implications of inadequacy of fresh water supply in major cities and towns of Southwest Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaires and oral interview from randomly sampled subjects within the study area. The permanent secretaries in the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources of the States of the region provide information and data on the facilities, supplies and challenges. The study reveals a significant spatial disparity in the state of infrastructures and availability of fresh water. New layouts have the highest availability and consumption while the rural-urban fringes have the least. The study suggests the need to further strengthen the institutions saddled with water supply provision by adequately financing infrastructure, equipment maintenance and management.

Key words: Spatial variation, fresh water, institutions, Southwest Nigeria.