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  • Business - Economy
  • Updated: February 06, 2020

UNICEF Requests $5.7m From Nigeria To Provide Water

UNICEF Requests $5.7m From Nigeria To Provide Water

The United Nation Children Economic Fund (UNICEF), says that the sum of $5.7billion is required the Nigerian government to provide water and sanitation in each local government area of the federation.

This was disclosed on 3 February 2020 by the Chief of Party Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, UNICEF, Zaid Jurji, during a meeting with Organized Private Sector on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), and the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja.

While addressing the issue, Jurji Commended the effort of the Nigerian government towards ending open defecation in the country, admonishing that all rules and laws should correspond with the increasing population.

“We are close to 200 million people and with the increasing population, if every year, there is an increase of services for five million people, it is barely enough; we are competing with natural population increase.” He said.

In addition to that, he urged private organizations to coordinate their activities to stop duplication of efforts, promotion of effective implementation and monitoring for the  success.

Still addressing the issue, the National Coordinator, OPS-WASH, Dr Nicholas Igwe, noted that the role of the private sector in scaling up water and sanitation services in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized.

He called for more commitment from all stakeholders, especially with the provisions of theme of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and how WASH access could promote value chain in job creation.

According to him, efforts are already being put in place as the private sector has commenced discussion with the Nigeria Diaspora Commission to relate how millions of Diasporas could adopt one toilet each for one household.

Meanwhile, Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of Diageo , has unveiled a 10-year project of providing clean and potable water for over 10 million people across five states of Edo, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In addition to this, Guinness Nigeria also pledges to support the Federal Government in intensifying the culture of hand washing in public places in order to promote hygiene and fight the spread of Lassa fever.

The Society Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Titilola Alabi, said “Guinness is committed to establishing five new water schemes in Abuja, Edo, Kano, Kebbi and Nasarawa states. We have chosen the communities in these states carefully following a Needs Assessment and for the benefit of a larger population.

“Currently, our water of life project, created to provide water to under-served communities by solar-powered water systems water to over one million Nigerians. We have 33 of such water schemes across 22 states,” she added.

While welcoming the team, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, pledged government’s involvement to eradicate the practice of open defecation in the country, emphasizing that the WASH sector cannot be overlooked, being the engine room for economic growth.

He went on to also seek the indulgence of stakeholders to support the government to achieve a zero open defecation goal by 2025.

“There is for sanity in the water resources sector. We need to measure all social impact of current interventions, it’s not just about figures and monies, we need to all efforts for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Adamu said.

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