How to provide safe water to 66 million Nigerians, by Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, expressed sadness that 66 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water, while 110 million others do not have access to sanitation services.

He spoke in Abuja at the formal unveiling of the National Water Resources and Irrigation Policies, and launch of Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH).

He blamed the situation on lack of effective coordination of stakeholders’ activities in the sector and inability to harness funds to tackle challenges.

Meanwhile, over 68 exhibitors from around the world will showcase their goods and services to the Nigerian public and the West African market at a water and construction trade show.

The event will hold November 8-10, 2016, at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.The three-day programme is endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, Federal Ministry of Environment, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), and the Nigerian Institute of Water Engineers (NIWE), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

According to Osinbajo, large numbers of children under the age of five die yearly from diarrhoea-related diseases traceable to unsafe drinking water. He said the situation is worse in rural areas where polluted ponds and streams are the only sources of drinking water.

The Vice President said with both initiatives, government has provided a framework to guide stakeholders and renewed focus on agriculture as revenue earner and contributor to the nation’s GDP.

He said: “It is expected that the implementation of PEWASH would help to attain our target of increased rural water supply and sanitation and improved public health, as well as expected positive impact on economic growth and human development.”

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu said PEWASH is a multi sectoral collaboration aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal-6, by eliminating open defecation, achieving 100 per cent access to water supply, and improving sanitation and hygiene in rural areas by 2030.