The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has engaged in private sector consultations to drive the Clean Nigeria initiative
The Minister of State for Water Resources, Mr Bello Goronyo, gave the assurance on Wednesday in a keynote address at a two-day workshop in Lagos.
Goronyo said that the aim of the workshop was to revitalise and expand private sector participation in eliminating open defecation and move toward safely-managed sanitation services.
According to him, the estimated amount required to achieve universal access to basic Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria by 2030 is N10 billion annually.
The minister said that the estimate was eight times the worth of current investment in the initiative.
“The government, therefore, believes that engaging the private sector, including financial institutions, will generate additional resources which can contribute significantly in addressing the shortfall for improved impact.
“Their complementary roles have the potential to help us bridge the funding gap required to realise the objective of the government in this sector for the benefit of our citizens whose welfare is paramount to all of us.
“The Federal Government is also engaged with state and local governments in order to mobilise them to invest in the provision of WASH facilities towards ensuring that the country achieves the Sustainable Development Goals targets for water and sanitation by 2030,” he said.
He said that the risk associated with open defecation included exposure to diseases and vulnerability to rape.
“This workshop is specifically designed to strategise on how this sector can be effectively mobilised.”
The minister said that the Federal Government was committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets in various sectors at the agreed timelines.
“For example, under the SDG 6, we are committed to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
“In particular, target 6.2 of the SDGs is focused on achieving access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and an end to open defecation, with emphasis on the needs of women, girls and the vulnerable,” he added.
Goronyo reiterated the ministry’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for active participation of stakeholders at the national and other levels through a partnership that would be holistic and effective.
“I therefore urge you to join us in this critical endeavour, and together, we can make a significant impact and create a future where every Nigerian has access to safe and sustainable WASH services and end to open defecation,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Jane Bevan, the UNICEF Chief of WASH in Nigeria, said that sanitation was important Nigeria.
He said that about 48 million people in the country did not have access to toilets.
“Together, we can make a big difference by way of commitment, we have a target of achieving this goal.
“If we are going to build one million toilets, that is a lot of money. We need the private sector to make this happen,” he said.
Dr Chinyere Alumina, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised UNICEF for efforts in Nigeria.
He described the workshop as timely and critical, saying that the collaboration would generate direct and indirect benefits to the nation. (NAN)
