By Fatima Saka
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman H. Adamu, has revealed that the Federal Government is committed to the provision of adequate Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as it contributes to the improvement of life, economic development and productivity in line with national and global targets.
Adamu made this known at the Review Meeting for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister revealed that investment in water and sanitation had multiplier effects to individuals and the country with the concomitant value chain benefits, and added that government’s efforts in addressing sector challenges and improving the sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to all Nigerians include the roll out of 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.
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Adamu further highlighted that some achievements of the sector included 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 trainings 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 emphasizing the need to sustain partnership in accelerating stakeholders engagement and community mobilization, Adamu also noted that the Federal Government had 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 would help to align all sector actors to the same vision and aspirations and also promote joint accountability.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said the presentations to be made at the review meeting are expected to highlight the successes, challenges and lessons learnt across the thematic areas, and provide the basis for robust engagement of stakeholders in order to arrive at recommendations that would ensure the sustainability of results, and identification of priorities for future engagements
She added that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was committed to raising the profile of water, sanitation and hygiene in the country, and ensuring sustainable access to basic WASH services for all Nigerians by 2030 in line with sustainable development goals, and enduring legacy of his tenure.
