Paper short abstract:

In Owerri, the private sector rather than the public sector leads in water provisioning. Efforts are underway for a public – private partnership. The paper ascertains the extent this new arrangement is influenced by political affiliations, social relationships and cultural representations.

Paper long abstract:

In the recent past, the water provisioning landscape in Owerri has displayed a multiplicity of governance forms. The approach ranged from state-run system to independent private operations. Currently there is an increased reliance on the informal private sector rather than the public sector, such that water deliveries to the great majority are almost totally in the hands of local entrepreneurs (water vendors). Public water supply is almost nonexistent in Owerri city. This is because the piped systems have been grounded to a halt, due to government's inability to provide electricity to pump water. With the promotion of water service privatization by global players, efforts are underway for a public - private partnership in Owerri city in order to make water more readily available. But to what extent is this new arrangement influenced by political affiliations, social relationships and cultural representations? Where does it put NGOs, international actors or the private water investors in the picture? Is there a popularly acceptable regulatory framework or water policy? Is the State Water Agency actually gaining authority in municipal water provision or losing it to informal private operators? This paper discusses the dynamics between international, national, state and local forces in the shaping of water governance in Owerri city. It recommends that the "informal private operators" be included in the shaping of water governance, and that the emerging partnerships in water service provision in Owerri city be strengthened to effectively tackle local water supply challenges.