Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has regretted that Nigeria could not achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for water and sanitation as a result of lack of effective coordination among stakeholders and the inability to harness the required funds.
“Consequently, about 150,000 children under the age of 5 die annually from diarrhea-related diseases that are mostly traceable to unsafe drinking water. The situation is even more depressing in the rural areas where polluted ponds and streams remain the only source of water for drinking and other household chores. This trend must change!”
Vice President Osinbajo spoke today, Monday while unveiling the National Water Policies and launching of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Hygiene in Abuja.
Osinbajo wondered why most people take the issue of water management lightly we take, saying that excess water or insufficient water not properly managed is devastating to both man and environment.
He said that the problem is made more graphic by the fact that since the creation of man, aggregate volume of water within the hydrosphere has substantially remained constant in spite of increasing population, which implies the per capita share is decreasing on a daily basis.
He noted that all has not been just bad new in Nigeria, explaining that successive governments, in collaboration with development partners, have recorded in a number of areas, with access to water supply presently at 69percent, and sanitation at 29 percent.
“This is still a far cry from what is needed. Indeed, within an ever increasing population and a drive to self-sufficiency in food production, the demand for water supply and sanitation service will continue to increase thereby requiring an innovative and holistic approach towards closing the access gaps.
“The Ministry of Water Resources has concluded work on the National Water Resources Policy and the National Irrigation Policy and was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“By this, the ministry is provided with the overarching framework which will guide the activities of all stakeholders in the sector in the wake of our renewed focus on agriculture as a revenue earner and contributor to our GDP and importantly, the development of our irrigation infrastructure.
I am informed that PEWASH will provide a new collaborative and systematic approach to the achievement of an increased universal access to sustainable water supply and sanitation services involving all the relevant stakeholders from the beneficiary communities, local government areas, state governments, development partners, donor agencies, the organized private sector and the Federal Government.
“It will also take cognizance of special groups such as the vulnerable and people living with disabilities with a well-structured framework for project delivery. It is expected that with the implementation of PEWASH, we hope to attain our targets of increased rural water supply and sanitation and health as well as make positive impact on economic growth and human development.”
The Vice President commended the Minister for Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu for his strong belief and practice of policy-driven initiative.
According to Osinbajo, it is clear that the minister is strongly subscribes to the view that the way of ensuring sustainable attainment is in ensuring that they are based on robust policy.
He also commended all development partners involved in this great initiative, for their commitments through the years with particular reference to the Permanent Secretary and members of the team at the Ministry of Water Resources for all the hard work that has gone into this so far.
“I encourage all stakeholders, especially the states and local governments to participate in this crucial initiative and commit to its success so that our common development goals as a nation will be achieved.” [myad]
