Nigeria needs $8bn annually to address sanitation issues – UNICEF

Zaid Jurji, Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), United Nations Children Education Funds (UNICEF), on Tuesday, said for Nigeria to address its water sanitation challenges,  the nation need to invest about $8 billion annually till the year 2030.

Jurji stated this in Jos, at the media, dialogue on water, sanitation and hygiene, on sector reformed projects,  he said it is imperative for the federal government to triple its investment in sanitation that presently stand at over $2 billion.

According to UNICEF Chief, “Nigeria must be more serious with Its investment in sanitation, the budgetary allocation to sanitation should be increased . Access to portable water and sanitation is human rights all over the world, because it contribute to the well-being of everybody.

“Sanitation is the responsibility of every government and people. 88% of diarrhoea cases all over the world are due to sanitation. If government invest $1 in sanitation, it would gain 25% in productivity.

“Out of the countries practicing open defecation in the world Nigeria has moved from being in number 5 in 2000 to number 2 in 2015. In Nigeria 25% openly defecates, that ended up contaminating the water sources.

“Nigeria is a federation, and for the nation to address its sanitation problem, the nation must invest at least $8 billion yearly, till 2030. If Nigeria continues this way, the nation will only achieve 72% of its Sustainable Development Goals 6 goals by 2030.”

Sustainable Development Goals 6 is that availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

The UNICEF boss lamented the fact that Nigeria only invest about 1.6% in sanitation which is a far cry.

Drissa Yeo, WASH specialist, UNICEF,while presenting his paper titled ‘Over view of water, sanitation and hygiene situation in Plateau’ State’, he said only 3 local governments, Dass local government, Worji local government, in Bauchi State and Obaniliki local government in Cross River state, out of 774 local governments in Nigeria are open
defecation free.

He said 1 gram of feaces has 10 million viruses, 1 million bacteria, 1,000 parasites and 1,000 eggs, this is a lot.

He therefore urged people to practice hand washing habits.

Plateau State, Commissioner of Water Resources and Energy, David Wuyep, while declaring the conference open, commended UNICEF and European Union (EU), for their intervention in two local government in Plateau State, in Ryom and and Shedam local governments.

He therefore reiterated the commitment of Plateau State government in ensuring good sanitation in Plateau State.

Earlier in his welcome address, Deputy Director, Child Right Information Bureau, Ministry of  Information and Culture, Olumide Osanyinpeju, said water sanitation is very important in the life of a child.

“The SDG 6 , clearly emphasis the importance of clean water and sanitation. Water is essential for the survival and development of all children. Open Defecation is incredibly dangerous, as contact with human waste can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio, diarrhoea, worm infection and under nutrition. We must double our current efforts in order to end open defecation by 2030.

” Simple hygiene like hand washing can save lives . washing hands with soap after going to the toilet or before eating can have a significant impacts on children’s health”.