The federal government, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) anddevelopment partners have harped on the need to urgently address the issue of water accessibility in Nigeria, especially for rural areas where the majority of people lack access to safe and potable water.
The minister of water resources, and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who made the remark on Friday in Abuja at the celebration of the 2024 world water day, explained the significance of accessibility of water to the economic growth of the country.
Utsev said to avert the pressing and sanitation challenges it is Paramount to implement policies and programme aimed at improving water supply, Increase investment in water supply and sanitation.
According to him, to avert the challenges the ministry has developed several initiatives aimed at improving funding for water resources project and programme,and to increasing resources mobilization and enhancing investment in water .
He disclose that the ministry has constructed 6,761 water schemes in urban and semi urban areas of Nigeria , and 10,568 sanitation facilities in 127 local government areas.
On his part, the country representative of UNESCO, Abdourhamane Diallo while presenting the 2024 world water development report to the minister of water resources said there is a linkage between water and conflict.
The synopsis of the 2024 report, titled: ‘water for peace’ by UNESCO shows that 80 percent of those who lack water are in the rural areas while urban areas are struggling to meet water demands of their rapidly growing population.
The report also said despite the water crisis water is a vector for prosperity, adding that water availability has long been recognized as a driver of economic growth.
Other development partners, on their part, reinstes their commitment to support the federal government. Oforbuike Nnaji, Managing Director of FordMarx Nigeria LTD, said it has outlined plans to support water accessibility in Nigeria.
Nnaji said he plans to donate 37 solar powered water boreholes to all states of the Federation.
According to him, there are plans to create jobs through the water sector for teeming unemployed Nigerians.
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