By YANGE IKYAA
The Nigerian government, through the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation, has commended UNICEF’s significant contributions to the country’s growth and development in the water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.
This commendation was conveyed on Tuesday during the visit to the ministry of Dr. Rownak Khan, who is the deputy representative of programme for UNICEF Nigeria, in company of UNICEF WASH manager, Chiranibi Tiwari, and where it was revealed by Khan that there is a significant funding gap of $9.2 billion in Nigeria’s water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.
The minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, together with the minister of state, Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq; and the permanent Secretary, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, alongside some directors in the ministry received the UNICEF team during the visit.
Prof. Utsev emphasized the interconnection between WASH, health promotion, economic growth, and development and expressed appreciation to UNICEF for the impactful work in these areas.
According to him, “UNICEF has done tremendously well in the areas of water and sanitation, nutrition and health, and the impact is felt in all aspects.”
He reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to improving the nation’s WASH sector and welcomed further collaboration with the development partners.
He added that the Nigerian government is working on its programmes such as the WASH in schools, WASH in health and Youth WASH interventions, among many others.
In his remarks, Goronyo stressed the need for key stakeholders in the WASH sector to step up their efforts to support the Federal Government in realizing the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present administration.
He highlighted the significance of partnership in achieving the campaign to end open defecation and improve access to water supply and appropriate sanitation.
In response, Khan emphasized the importance of closing these funding gaps to realize the WASH sector’s roadmap and urged all tiers of government to play a more active role in creating an enabling environment to advance the cause of improved water and sanitation.
She also highlighted the severe impact of low water access and poor sanitation on children, underscoring the need for immediate action. She pledged UNICEF’s unwavering partnership with the Federal Government to achieve the campaign to end open defecation and improve access to water supply in Nigeria.
