The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has pledged to make a remarkable change in the current trend of inadequate water supply by providing potable water across the country.
This was contained in a statement by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu in Abuja.
Adamu said the road map launched by the ministry recently seeks to address the current status of water supply in Nigeria by ensuring 100 per cent water supply by 2030.
The minister said the national access to water supply in 2015 was 69 per cent.
According to him, this implies that 31 per cent or 52.7 million Nigerians do not have access to potable water supply.
Adamu remarked: “It is imperative to change the trend to achieve 100 per cent access to water supply to our citizens by the year 2030, being Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target years. “Presently, 31 per cent (52.7million Nigerians) mostly in the rural areas are still without access to improved drinking water sources.”
The minister also pointed out that access to sanitation was in the decline with an increase in open defecation across the nation due to lack of sanitation facilities.
On the efforts to tackle this, Adamu said the government will undertake expanded programme with relevant stakeholders to improve water, sanitation and hygiene.
Adamu further said that sanitation in public places would focus on eradication of open defecation in such places.
“This is a collaborative partnership intervention model between major stakeholders, federal, states, and local governments, communities, donor agencies/development partners and the private sectors toward achieving the SDGs in Nigeria,” he said.
According to Adamu, the National Water Resources Master Plan indicates that Nigeria has a hydro-power potential of about 12,220mw, which could enhance power supply to citizenry.
He said only about 1,930mw had been developed at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams.
Adamu explained that there were 17 existing dams with combined potential hydro-power capacity of over 200mw that were yet to be exploited.
The minister explained further that the ministry, in collaboration with other stakeholders, had determined to develop the dams with hydro electricity power to enhance electricity supply in the country.
According to the minister, most dams that are up to 30 years and above have accumulated sediments and silted up.
Adamu said the ministry would undertake proper assessment including cost benefit analysis to decide on optimal procedure for desilting where feasible.
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