February 8, 2025
News

World Bank plashes $700m for water, sanitation in Nigeria

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The 2018 declaration of state of emergency in Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene, the World Bank has responded in assisting the country with $700 million to ameliorate the challenges associated with lack of clean water or the absence of it.

The funds will be distributed to seven States of Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Delta, Ekiti, Plateau and Gombe.

The beneficiaries applied for the funds listing their States as worst hit by the absence of clean water and hygiene, the National Coordinator, Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Mr. Attah Benson said.

Attah who was in Jos Tuesday with his team to ensure that the State Government and other relevant stakeholders in the water sector make judicious use of the money, said apart from the World Bank intervention, government should also play their role to compliment the efforts of the donor.

“We have concerns for ensuring improvement in water sanitation and hygiene services to all citizens across the country. We are here to also engage the government in issues that will improve the provision of water and sanitation services.

“NEWSAN also want to ensure that all relevant stakeholders like the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are carried along in the project implementation”, Attah said.

He lamented that most projects sponsored by the world bank in the past did not yield desired results, hence the visit to ensure it does not repeat itself.

Earlier, the General Manager, Plateau State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA), Engr. Peter Kassam, said the Agency has contributed in improve water sanitation in the State, but decried lack of funds to effectively implement most of its project.

Kassam said he is currently working with the State House of Assembly to propagate law that will put an end to open defecation which is mostly caused by lack of water, toilet and proper hygiene.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Irimiya Werri, said government is not expecting the World Bank to shoulder all responsibility regarding water and sanitation for the State, pledging that the State will continue to partner with the State chapter of NEWSAN to ensure that the danger posed by poor hygiene and water is permanently eradicated in Plateau.

Our correspondent reports that the World Bank has approved the Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program (SURWASH).

With the $700 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), it will provide 6 million people with basic drinking water services and 1.4 million people access to improved sanitation services.

The program will deliver improved water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to 2,000 schools and Health Care Facilities and assist 500 Communities to achieve open defecation free status.

These will be implemented as part of the Government of Nigeria National Action Plan (NAP) for the Revitalization of Nigeria’s Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Sector, our correspondent said.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply