March 26, (THEWILL) – No fewer than five million Nigerians are in dire need of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in the North-East region.
North-East Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Coordinator, Francois Bellet, disclosed this in Maiduguri on Tuesday, at an event to mark the 2024 World Water Day with the theme: ‘Water for Peace’.
According to Bellet, the WASH sector, which consists of 42 humanitarian organisations, in collaboration with other partners, supported 1.6 million people in Borno State with safe drinking water in 2023.
He said that many internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the region still lack potable water, latrines and other services to improve their well-being.
“Five million people are still in need of WASH in North-East Nigeria. There is a need to address this concern because safe drinking water is key to addressing WASH-related acute vulnerabilities such as germs and other diseases,” he lamented.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Phuong Nguyen, noted that ensuring reliable access to water is paramount for peaceful coexistence in the North-East emerging from fifteen years of conflict.
She said that millions of children and families in the region still lack access to safe water and therefore advocated for more investment in the sector.
“There’s an urgent need to increase investments to accelerate progress for both climate-friendly water and sanitation services in Borno State and across North-East Nigeria,” Nguyen stressed.
The UNICEF Chief explained that initiatives such as the Small-Town Water Scheme have revolutionised water access in conflict-affected communities, demonstrating the power of innovation in addressing complex challenges.
General Manager, Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Dr. Mohammed Aliyu, said the State Government has constructed over 200 hybrid boreholes, 462 hand pumps and rehabilitated 316 solar-powered boreholes across the state in the last five years.
Represented by the Director, Administration and Supply, Hajiya Hauwa Anas, the GM also said two million people were currently being reconnected with clean water in an effort to achieve SDG goal 6.
The event was attended by members of the Borno State House of Assembly, academia, local and international non-governmental organisations and other partners.
About the Author
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via ladi4media@gmail.com.
Very high and kind regards!
