WaterAid lauds Nigeria’s new WASH action plan

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WaterAid, an international organization dedicated to providing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in 28 countries of the world including Nigeria, has welcomed the launch of a National Action Plan on water and sanitation by the Nigerian government in response to the nation`s emergency water and sanitation crises.

“With 1 in 3 Nigerians without clean water, and 2 in 3 Nigerians without decent household sanitation, strong political will is what is needed to address the water and sanitation crises in Nigeria and at WaterAid we are delighted that the Federal Government and His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari is demonstrating the needed political will with the launch of the Action Plan,” says Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, country director of WaterAid Nigeria.

Aniagolu-Okoye described the National Plan of Action as a significant political milestone towards achieving the UN`s Sustainable Development Goal 6 – clean water and sanitation – to reach everyone, everywhere with clean water and decent sanitation by 2030.

“As we all know our country is vast with an increasing rate of urbanization but recent indices for water supply and sanitation access requires that governments at all levels redouble efforts and work in synergy towards meeting the nation`s water supply and sanitation demands,” said Buhari in a speech declaring a state of emergency in water, sanitation and hygiene and launching the action plan on Friday.

The National Action Plan commits the Nigerian government (federal and states) to establish the institutional and funding mechanisms for sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services to accelerate development towards 2030.

The action plan is said to commence with an 18-month emergency plan, followed by a five-year recovery plan and a 13-year revitalization strategy, towards the 2030 deadline of the UN`s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at zero poverty and hunger, and sustainable planet.