The Nigerian government has appealed to States and critical stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to double their efforts to enhance implementation process for improved water and sanitation services in the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev made the appeal at the opening of the midterm review workshop for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene SURWASH programme workshop for stakeholders in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power.
Professor Utsev expressed concerned over the slow implementation of the SURWASH programme and called for immediate action from states and critical stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to meet the commitments henceforth.
The Minister said that the seven hundred million dollar SURWASH programme funding is a bold and ambitious initiative with an implementation period of six years effective from fourteenth of February two thousand and twenty two to June thirtieth two thousand and twenty seven while the p
rogramme which is being implemented in the seven participating states of Delta,Ekiti,Gombe,Imo, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau is aimed at strengthening sector policies and institutions for improved services and address water and sanitation challenges in urban and rural areas.
He expressed hope that the collaboration with the World Bank especially in the areas of technical expertise, financial support and global experience would enhance a smooth implementation of the programme in the country.
Professor Utsev expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the support to ensure smooth implementation of the programme in the country and the World Bank team for the sustained partnership
He reminded participants that the review workshop was a platform to reflect on the progress made so far and critically evaluate the challenges ahead to ensure that Nigeria remain on the path of achieving the goals set at the inception of the programme.
On his part, Director Water Supply Mukaila Babarinde said the target
of the programme was to provide six point one million Nigerians from the participating states with clean and safe water, five hundred communities with sanitation facilities and improved sanitation services in schools while a Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist with World Bank Awa Diagne who spoke on behalf of the country Director of the bank said the goal was to empower countries with water need and sanitation services as well as to ensure that no community in Nigeria is left behind in sustainable development.
Diagne said the world bank would continue to support Nigeria achieve her target of providing access to clean water and hygiene for all.
Source: Voice of Nigeria