From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Head of Programmes at WaterAid Nigeria, Nanpet Chuktu, at the ongoing annual water quality conference in Abuja, has lamented that access to clean and safe water remains a challenge for many Nigerians.
Chuktu, who was represented by the Country Director, Evelyn Mere, said that clean and safe water is critical for the well-being of any nation.
According to her, “Water is life, but it must be of the safest quality; otherwise, it will deliver disease, stunting, and death.
“This is sadly the reality for millions of Nigerians for whom access to clean and safe water remains a challenge.
“Contaminated or polluted water sources pose severe threats to health, livelihoods, and economic development, perpetuating cycles of poverty and disease.”
She noted that WaterAid, in collaboration with the government, civil society, and development partners, has been committed to strengthening systems that ensure sustainable and equitable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services for all.
According to her, the advent of climate change, high levels of industrialisation, and the prevailing practice of open defecation have impacted both surface water and groundwater sources.
“WaterAid has found it increasingly necessary to focus on the safety of the water that is distributed for our people to drink and use for other purposes,” she said.
On his part, the UNICEF WASH Manager for Climate Change, Mr Chiranjibi Tiwari, stated that more than two-thirds of the water sources in Nigeria are contaminated and not safe for drinking purposes, adding that to achieve the renewed hope agenda of the President, all hands must be on deck to address the issue by working together.