From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
‘‘THE scourge of cholera plaguing parts of Nigeria has exposed the chronic underfunding of the country’s water and sanitation sector.”
This was verdict of Micheal Ale, National President, Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP). He is also founder, Global Initiative for Nigeria Development (GIND).
He told Daily Sun in Ibadan, Oyo State: “Cholera has been endemic in Nigeria since it first appeared in 1972, with the 1991 outbreak being the most severe, resulting in 59,478 cases and 7,654 deaths. Fast forward to 2024, and the situation appears to have not improved much.
“On June 9, 2024, Lagos State Government declared a cholera outbreak, reporting 324 suspected cases, including 15 deaths and 40 discharges. Nationally, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDCP) has recorded 1,141 suspected cholera cases in 30 states since January 1, with 65 confirmed cases and 30 deaths.
He insisted that the recurrent cholera outbreaks in Nigeria were a symptom of the chronic underfunding of the water and sanitation sector:
“Nearly a third of Nigerians lack access to a basic water supply, attributed to loopholes in a law.
“Government alone cannot supply Nigerians with safe water.
“They need to involve private sector players in their planning and intervention.”
To address the current crisis, Ale called for a more aggressive and comprehensive approach, beyond just vaccine distribution and public awareness campaigns.
He urged other private organisations, development partners, civil society organisations and non-state actors to join the fight against the disease.
Ale suggested that government should invite private practitioners in borehole drilling to immediately undertake professional drilling in areas where water is scarce, as part of the emergency intervention.
He also proposed the establishment of a “WASH Practitioner Without Borders” network to provide pro bono support and supervision in the drilling and sanitisation of contaminated boreholes.
“Cholera outbreak is a sign of underfunding of the water sector in Nigeria, perhaps the funding was misappropriated. This needs to be looked into proactively.”