No Clean Water For Over 57 Million Nigerians....Study

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

A recent research work has unveiled the huge gaps and challenges Nigerians suffer with the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service sector.

The agency in its report maintained that out of 200 million Nigerians, over 57 million Nigerians do not have access to clean water, while 130 million Nigerians do not have access to basic sanitation.

The findings were contained in a fact sheet made available to journalists today during a media  roundtable meeting held at Asaba.

The media roundtable meeting funded and organized by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), had journalists drawn from the print, electronic, broadcast and online media platforms participated.

USAID's research work centered around Effective Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene (E-WASH) was designed and implemented to 'ensure access to sustainable urban water and sanitation services through improved governance and accountability.

Findings from the study also unveiled some retrogress trends over some period, say between 1990 through 2015.

The study shows that acess to improved water at the national level increased, but same access to piped water in urban areas declined.

In 1990, access to piped water in urban areas was at an all high rate of 32%, while it fell drastically low to 10% in 2015.

Access to improved sanitation in 1990 stood at 38% and crashed downwards to 29% in 2015.

The study cited accelerated urbanization, poor cost recovery, complex governance system and poor institutional framework as factors responsible for the decline in access to water & improved sanitation services.

The above factors adversely affect Nigerian citizen's health, their access to educational/economic opportunities, their work efficiency and labour productivity, the study further stated.

Aim of USAID's E-WASH program in Nigeria is geared towards improved availability of clean water, improved sanitation within the nation's vulnerable urban cities.

The E-WASH, a 4 years program is implemented in six states of Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba States and aims to provide more access to basic drinking water supplies to more than 500,000 households in these six states.


SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)