WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Evelyn Mere, has highlighted the major strides made by the organization in Lagos State, particularly in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector. Speaking at a recent stakeholder workshop, Mere stressed the importance of continued efforts to address the challenges facing the sector.
The workshop which mobilized stakeholders for Water Sanitation and Hygiene was tagged “System Building Blocks Assessment Workshop” and brought together stakeholders in the WASH sector to assess the current state of the WASH system in the state, identify weaknesses and strengths, and explore opportunities for improvement. The event aimed to strengthen the WASH system in Lagos State and ensure that all citizens have access to sustainable WASH services.
Mere noted that WaterAid Nigeria has made significant progress in Lagos State, including supporting the state government in developing the WASH policy and establishing the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission. She emphasized the need for continued collaboration and integration with other sectors to achieve sustainable development goals.
“Lagos is a state where the population is constantly outstripping services provided by the govt. So what the govt has realised is that they need to collaborate with others Civil Society organisations, Internstional NGOs, Donors , Private Sector and so on.
So that opening up of the sector is an education of huge political and government leadership, and an area we have scored highly. There’s also the building block of policies and plans. Recently the Lagos state government approved the WASH policy, that’s another show of commitment in leadership” Mere said, adding that collaboration must continue to ensure that all citizens have access to sustainable WASH services.
While harping on the importance of empowered citizens, financing, and institutional arrangements in ensuring sustainable WASH services, Mere noted that WaterAid Nigeria is committed to continuing its work in the WASH sector, but also looks forward to exploring opportunities for partnership and integration with other sectors beyond WASH.
“We are a monothematic organization, focused on WASH, but we recognize the importance of coordinating and integrating with other sectors like health, education, and climate change in the nearer future to achieve sustainable development goals,” she said.
The workshop was part of WaterAid Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen the WASH system in the state and ensure that all citizens have access to sustainable WASH services.
Lagos State, with a population of over 20 million people, faces challenges in providing sustainable WASH services to its citizens. The state’s rapid urbanization and population growth have put a strain on its water and sanitation infrastructure, leading to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
