Nigeria has be identified to be faced with a continuous decline in access to healthy water supply.
Suleiman Adamu, minister of water resources disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the 2018 world water day titled “Nature for water”, stating that Nigeria has recorded a continuous percentage decline in the acess to healthy water supply from 31% in 1990 to less than 7% in 2017. Adding that 180,799,475 persons representing 93% of the total Nigeria population lack access to healthy water.
He explained that inspite of the accomplishments and the enormous opportunities in the water sector in terms of abundant fresh water, favourable weather, substantial human capita and numerous institutional arrangements, a lot of work still need to be done as the current national access to water supply implies that millions of Nigerians are still without access to improved drinking water resources.
He said “In spite of the enormous opportunities we have in the water sector in terms of abundant fresh water, favourable weather numerous institutional arrangements, we still have a lot of work to do. With the current national access to water supply as at today, it implies that millions of Nigerians are still without access to improved drinking water sources”.
He further stressed the need to ensure improved access to sanitation and clean water supply as an essential tool for healthy society and socio-economic development of any Nation adding that 70% of water withdrawn from nature goes to agriculture which further has effect on the food crops.
He informed the completion of the National water resources master plan which attaches high priority to the implementation of a series of large, medium and small dam projects in Nigeria.
“Let me inform that the National water resources master plan which gives high priority to the implementation of a series of large, medium and small dam projects in Nigeria has been finalized and we currently have over 200 dams in Nigeria.
Simon Gregor, a representative from the UNESCO, explained that according to the latest United Nations World water development report, 3.6billion people around the world live in potentially water-scarce areas adding that there could be a rise to more than 5 billion in 2050.
According to him, fresh water resources are continuously under pressure of global population growth, climate change and spread of lifestyles that squander resources adding that 80% of wastewater returns to the ecosystem without being treated.
“The reasons for this global shortage can be attributed to freshwater resources which are continuously under combined pressures of global population growth, climate change, exponential increase in consumption and the spread of lifestyles that squander resources. 80% of wastewater returns to the ecosystem without being treated”.
He stressed the Continous commitment to support the Nigerian governments in the transition to green and circular economies and their efforts to implement better-integrated water policies.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
