Water funding must target those that need it most – Adamu

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, has stated that funding for water must be targeted at those who need it the most.

He said the disabled, marginalised, the aged and poor majority are left behind, living without water in their homes, schools, workplaces, farms and factories.

Adamu stated this on Thursday, during a press briefing to commemorate the 2019 World Water Day in Abuja.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations conference on Environment and Development (UNICED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The United Nations General Assembly officially designated 22nd March as World Water Day and access to to water as a human right.

Addressing the press, Adamu said the theme, “Leaving no one Behind”, underscores the importance of freshwater, promotes sustainable management of freshwater resources and the need to accelerate water supply coverage to all parts of the country.

He said this year celebration is a shift from the usual yearly symposium as part of efforts to leave no one behind.

“Billions of people are still left behind: living without safe water in their himes, schools, workplaces, farms, factories.

“A lot of people are left behind for many reasons including: disability, gender, age, and health status, economic and social status, to name a few. Whoever you are, wherever you are, water is your human right. The UN recognises access to water as a human right. This right entitled everyone without discrimination to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses; which include water for drinking, sanitation, food preparation, personal and household hygiene,’ he said.

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