WaterAid has announced that urgent action is required to address the critical water crisis affecting Nigeria, as revealed by recent findings. With 158 million people in Nigeria lacking basic water supply, the organization states the need for collaborative efforts to ensure equitable access to water for all citizens by 2030.
The report released by WaterAid on World Water Day, pointed out that uneven water distribution around the world, poses threats to social, national and international stability. Hence the reason the United Nations Initiative, sets aside 22nd March every year for the commemoration of World Water Day to demonstrate the role water plays for peace, for cooperation and to promote the sustainable development.
Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, stressed the urgency of the situation, that meeting the 2030 target for water accessibility necessitates a six-fold increase in current rates of progress. Without immediate intervention and concerted action, millions of Nigerians will continue to suffer from the lack of clean water, jeopardizing their health, livelihoods, and overall well-being.
As a result, WaterAid calls for multistakeholder collaboration, urging governments, civil society organizations, and private sector entities to collaborate in addressing the water crisis. Comprehensive intervention strategies, including robust policies, adequate funding, and community capacity building initiatives, are essential to ensure sustainable water management and equitable access for all.
Globally, around 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed water and in Nigeria, 158 million people lack access to basic water supply. This is as a result of water-related impacts of the worsening climate change which is creating water pressure, and growing demand on the planet which has placed an increased strain on the finite resource
WaterAid stated that it remains committed to driving its sustainable WASH agenda forward and calls upon all stakeholders to prioritize water management and governance as a fundamental pathway to a brighter and more sustainable future for Nigeria.