FG declares state of emergency in water, sanitation sector
IN a bid to revitalize the deplorable situation of the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector, the Federal Government has declared state of emergency in the sector.
The memorandum for National WASH Action Plan was approved during the last the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, an engineer had told the council that the WASH sector is currently in crisis situation and requires urgent action for its revitalization.
The Minister explained that the action plan would set out a 13-year revitalization strategy for WASH sector including 18 months emergency phase and five years recovery plan adding that it would provide for concrete actions to be taken by both Federal and State Governments under five components comprising governance, sustainability, funding, financing and monitoring and evaluation.
According to a statement signed by the Director Press in the ministry, Mrs Kenechukwu Offie, the minister explained that the Action Plan includes the establishment of a National WASH Fund as a tool for the promotion of renewed Federal-state partnership and increased financial investment for WASH so as to measure up to regional level of funding.
Adamu said the National WASH Action Plan would change the worrisome situation and reverse the ugly trend while the declaration of state of emergency on the sector will change the narrative. He said following the national declaration, States and Local Governments are expected to follow suit, through increasing their political and financial commitment to the WASH Sector.
He then commended the Federal Government for providing the leadership and demonstrating the necessary political will at the highest level by declaring state of emergency in the WASH Sector.
Speaking further, the Minister said that the ministry has made significant efforts through National retreats with critical stakeholders from the federal, state governments, legislators and development partners that resulted in the development of a National WASH Action Plan.