The UNICEF has announced that Nigeria requires $9.2billion to close the funding gap in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Dr.Rownak Khan, Deputy Representative of Programme, UNICEF Nigeria, revealed this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof.Joseph Utsev, alongside the Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo in their office in Abuja.
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She noted that there is a significant funding gap of $9.2 billion in Nigeria’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, stressing the importance of closing these funding gaps to realise the WASH sector’s roadmap.
She therefore urged all tiers of government to play a more active role in creating an enabling environment to advance the cause of improved water and sanitation.
Khan also highlighted the severe impact of low water access and poor sanitation on children, underscoring the need for immediate action.
She pledged UNICEF’s unwavering partnership with the Federal Government to achieve the Campaign to End Open Defecation and improve access to water supply in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Utsev acknowledged UNICEF’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s growth and development in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Sector.
The minister emphasised the interconnection between WASH, health promotion, economic growth and development, while expressing appreciation to UNICEF for the impactful work in these areas.
According to him,“UNICEF has done tremendously well in the areas of water and sanitation, nutrition and health and the impact is felt in all aspects.”
He reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to improving the nation’s WASH sector and welcomed further collaboration with the development partners.
He said “Nigerian government was working on its programmes such as the WASH in schools, WASH in health and Youth WASH interventions,” among many others.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, stressed the need for key stakeholders in the WASH sector to step up their efforts to support the Federal Government to realise the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.
He highlighted the significance of partnership in achieving the campaign to end open defecation and improve access to water supply and appropriate sanitation.
