By Paul Efiong, Abuja
Stakeholders in the water industry yesterday expressed displeasure over lack of sources of potable water, calling on governments, private sectors to collaborate in order to revive major sources of water across the country.
They made the call in a stakeholders’ forum, organised by Water Aid, an International Organisation, as part of activities to mark 2019 World Water Day.
It would be recalled that the United Nations set aside March 22 of every year to celebrate World Water Day, and the theme for 2019 celebration is “Leaving No One Behind”.
Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, appealed to government at all levels to revive dams and other major sources of water across the country.
Aniagolu-Okoye, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related challenges in the country could be avoided, if there were adequate WASH facilities.
“It is embarrassing to Nigeria, that in 21th century we have Lasa fever, we have cholera, dysentry, things that can be very easily eliminated with adequate WASH facilities.
“It is fantastic that the Federal Government had declared State of Emeegency in WASH sector, it is also fantastic that we have National Action Plan.
“But this need to be really put into action and to take it down to the state level for action because this is where majority of Nigerian peolpe are leaving, ” she said.
While appreciating the federal government in its efforts, the WaterAid official tasked state governments to be proactive in WASH sector as the federal government had been doing.
Also, Mrs Oluwatoyin Saraki, Founder/President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WFA), stressed the need for private sector partnership with the governments as they could not alone made provision of WASH to all citizens.
Mr Chime Asonye, Partnership and Engagement Manager, Partnership Initiatives In Niger Delta, an NGO, emphasized on the need for the private sector to assist the rural communities in providing WASH facilities to cushion the plight of the rural areas.
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