The Federal Government has called for increased urgency from states and key stakeholders to expedite the disbursement of World Bank funds designated for enhancing water and sanitation services in Nigeria.
The appeal was made by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, during the opening of the midterm review workshop for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme in Abuja today.
Professor Utsev expressed concern over the slow pace of the programme’s implementation and urged immediate action from all involved parties to meet their commitments.
The $700 million SURWASH programme, which commenced on February 14, 2022, and will run until June 30, 2027, is designed to improve water and sanitation services in seven participating states: Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau.
The initiative aims to strengthen sector policies and institutions while addressing water and sanitation challenges in both urban and rural areas.
Professor Utsev highlighted the collaboration with the World Bank as crucial to the programme’s success, citing the Bank’s technical expertise, financial support, and global experience as vital for smooth implementation.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and to the World Bank team for their continued partnership.
The review workshop serves as an opportunity to assess progress and identify challenges to ensure the programme remains on track to meet its objectives.
The Director of Water Supply, Mr Mukaila Babarinde, noted that the SURWASH programme aims to provide clean and safe water to 6.1 million Nigerians in the participating states, equip 500 communities with sanitation facilities, and improve sanitation services in schools.
Awa Diagne, a Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist with the World Bank, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to empowering countries in need of water and sanitation services, emphasizing the goal of ensuring that no community in Nigeria is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development.
Meanwhile, as part of his inspection tour of federal water supply projects in the Southwest, the Minister visited the Ilesha Water Supply Project in Osun State recently.
The visit aimed to assess the current status of the project and explore ways to enhance the water supply to 32 villages in the Ilesha area.
During the visit, Prof. Utsev emphasized the need for immediate improvements in water quality and quantity, highlighting the importance of environmentally friendly and cost-efficient solutions.
