FG harps on collaborative efforts for sustainable WASH solutions
Bello Goronyo,
Zulum identifies cause of water scarcity in Borno
The Federal Government, yesterday, harped on the need for collaborative efforts to address the challenges associated with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) across the country.
This was as Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State attributed the lingering water scarcity to the construction of underground water dams for commercial gains in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Council.
Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, made the call at the national stakeholders’ workshop for the development of the WASH sector, in Abuja, yesterday.
He said: “WASH Sector-Wide Sustainability Checks Action Plan and compact are not just documents; they are a promise, a promise to leave no one behind, to ensure that every person has access to clean water, proper sanitation and the knowledge to lead a healthy life on a sustainable basis.”
According to him, by embracing the WASH Sector-Wide Sustainability Checks Action Plan, Nigeria is investing in the future of communities and the world at large.
Goal of the plan, he said, is to transform clean water and sanitation from mere aspirations into fundamental rights for all Nigerians.The minister said the workshop marked a significant stride in Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring universal access to clean water and proper sanitation.
The discussions at the workshop revolved around the formulation of the WASH Sector-Wide Sustainability Checks Action Plan and sustainability compact, recognising the existing progress while confronting the stark reality of non-functional water facilities across the nation.
Chairman of FordMax Nigeria Limited, Nnaji Ofor, who was a resource person at the workshop, expressed optimism about the potential to make significant improvements, including providing potable water and solar-powered irrigation systems to farmers, which could create millions of jobs and reduce food costs.
ACCORDING to Zulum, the concealed water dams trapped the free flow of pipe-borne water to residences, hospitals and other public places. Zulum busted some of the water dams, yesterday, in Maiduguri, during a surprise visit to four communities hit by water scarcity.
“The illegal water vendors constructed the underground dams to manipulate the water distribution network by trapping pumped water for household and public use,” he said.
He said the specialised dams have blocked and diverted the free flow of potable water to residences and institutions, thereby creating artificial water scarcity in housing estates and communities.
Besides the scarcity, the water vendors increased their prices from N400 to N750 for a 14-jerrycan cart. Zulum added: “It is unfortunate to notice that while the state government spends millions of naira to give the people water; few individuals have resorted to the construction of specialised dams, with multiple layers of water reservoirs.” The governor, therefore, vowed to take “swift and decisive action” against the water vendors.
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