The Minister of Water Resources, Engr, Suleiman Adamu has stated that the federal government through its various initiatives in the water sector has demonstrated commitment to the provision of adequate portable Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to Nigerians.
Adamu made this known at the review meeting for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Sector recently in Abuja, saying the sector under the current administration has witnessed huge investment.
According to him, investment in Water and Sanitation has multiplier effects on individuals and the country with the concomitant value chain benefits.
He said the government’s efforts in addressing sector challenges and improving sustainable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services to all Nigerians include the roll-out of the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) Programme; declaration of a state of emergency and the National WASH Action Plan to revitalize the WASH sector; roll out of the ‘Clean Nigeria: use the toilet’ Campaign and Executive Order 09 among others.
The Minister highlighted that some achievements of the Sector, include the validation of the Draft National Roadmap for Water Quality Management; Domestication of Hydrogen Sulphide vials production for Water Quality Monitoring; Capacity building for laboratory staff on Public Water Audit to strengthen the enforcement of the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality, and series of training geared at building capacities on different approaches and thematic areas such as Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), Hygiene Promotion, Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, Sanitation Marketing and Community Water safety plan carried out to strengthen capacity for quality implementation and attainment of sustainable WASH improvements in Nigerian communities.
He further remarked that the FG through the Ministry of Water Resources launched the 2021 WASHNORM report and the National Roadmap for Hand Hygiene for all, while the minimum package and contingency plans for Hand Hygiene supply chain are being finalized.
While emphasising the need to sustain partnership in accelerating stakeholders’ engagement and community mobilization, Engr Adamu also noted that the Federal Government has kick-started the process of integrating the Africa Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG) into Nigerian National policies which is expected to inform the development of the National WASH Policy.
He expressed optimism that instituting a Joint Sector Review ( JSR) for the WASH Sector in Nigeria will help to align all Sector actors to same vision and aspirations and also promote joint accountability.
Earlier in Her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said that the presentations to be made at the review meeting are expected to highlight the successes, challenges and lessons learned across the thematic areas, and provide the basis for robust engagement of stakeholders in order to arrive at recommendations that will ensure the sustainability of results, and identification of priorities for future engagements
