The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, says no fewer than 32,008,600 Nigerians have access to potable water from 2015 to 2022.
The minister said this at the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Presentation of Scorecard in the Water Sector on Monday in Abuja.
Adamu, speaking on infrastructure development from 2016 to 2022 identified the number as the Federal Government intervention urging states to do their quota in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of water for all.
According to him, provision of potable water supply to all the inhabitants in Nigeria is a complementary shared constitutional responsibility of the three tiers of government.
“The Federal Government through the ministry is responsible for policy advice and formation, making special intervention, data monitoring and reporting.
“The states through their MDAs are directly responsible for water supply to urban, small towns and rural areas.
“While local government authorities are responsible for the provision of potable water to rural communities in their areas of jurisdiction,” Adamu said.
He said in providing access to potable water in the country, 6,761 water schemes were developed across urban, small towns and rural areas of the country producing 794,334,000 litres daily and servicing 32,008,600 Nigerians.
Giving the ministry’s achievement within the years under review Adamu said it has completed 30 water supply projects out of the 36 ongoing water supply projects inherited.
According to him, some will be closed or transferred to state governments.
Adamu listed some of the completed projects as, Mangu Regional Water Supply Scheme in Plateau States, Ekeremor Water Supply Project in Bayelsa, Water Supply for Fadan Kagoma, Gwodo-Gwodo, Gwantu in Jamaa and Sanga LGAs, Kaduna.
Others include Ojirami Dam, Water Supply Scheme and Rehabilitation Network in Edo State, Vom Water Supply Project, Plateau, Obafemi Awolowo University Water Supply Scheme, Osun, Sabke, Dutsi and Mashi Water Supply project, Katsina.
The minister identified water as critical to human existence adding that the entire socio-economic development and environment sustainability revolves round it
“The central role of this finite resource to the lives of all Nigerians prompted the creation of the ministry charged with the responsibility of developing a framework.
“This framework is towards making water sector a pillar for food security, job creation, water supply and sanitation and hydropower,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)
