This study empirically examines the impact of economic growth and access to safe drinking water on life expectancy in Nigeria using Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model as tool of analysis for the period 1980 - 2014. The result of this study indicates that economic growth and access to safe drinking water exert positive and statistically significant impact on life expectancy at birth. Consequently, upon the findings of this study, a number of recommendations are given which include: the need for the governments to intensify its existing policies in order to maintain inclusive economic growth that would increase employment generation and reduce poverty for better life expectancy. Moreover, there is also need for governments, Nongovernmental organizations, international development partners and philanthropists to intervene in improving access to safe and portable drinking water in both rural and urban areas through construction of boreholes, pipe water, public taps or standpipes, tube wells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and rainwater collection reservoirs.