ABUJA – The Federal Government in Abuja on Wednesday inaugurated the National Water Supply and Sanitation Survey, aimed at boosting supply of potable water in the country.
In her speech, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, said that the survey was another milestone to enhancing the supply of potable water to majority of Nigerians.
Represented by Mr Istifanus Kaura, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ochekpe said that the government was committed to providing necessary support to bring development to the sector.
The minister said that the exercise would enable Nigerians to take stock of achievements made so far under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target for water supply and sanitation.
She said that it would also create an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for sustaining the post-MDGs programmes on water and sanitation.
“The importance of a robust database of water supply and sanitation cannot be over-emphasised, as it is a fundamental tool for planning and formulating policies for result-oriented interventions,“ he said.
The minister said that in 2006, the ministry carried out the first national baseline survey for water supply and sanitation, stressing that it was carried out in all states of the federation.
She commended the 13 consultancy services, which were in partnership with the World Bank-Assisted National Urban Water Reform Project, to carry out the survey nationwide.
Ochekpe, however, called on all tiers of government to partner all stakeholders to improve quality water supply and sanitation in the country.
Mr Benson Ajisegiri, National Coordinator, National Urban Water Reform Project, commended the World Bank for its support to improving urban water supply in the country.
He said although urban water supply was expensive, continuous efforts were needed to increase access to finance for improving water infrastructure in all parts of the country.
Mr Hassan Kida, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank, expressed support for improving water supply and sanitation for all Nigerians.
He called for more awareness on challenges to water supply, noting that accurate information would assist the government to know areas of need.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ongoing survey was aimed at getting data on commencing the World Bank-Assisted National Urban Water Reform Project III.
NAN also reports that the aim was to fulfill the MDGs’ commitment of reducing by half the percentage of the population without access to potable water by 2015. (NAN)
FG inaugurates survey on improved water supply
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