Potable Water for All, Sign of Poverty Eradication – Obasanjo

from This Day Online

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said the fight against poverty could not be said to have succeeded, until “wholesome drinking water” was provided in every home.
Obasanjo said this as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) declared that 40 million Nigerians, representing 35 per cent of the country’s population still lack access to safe water.

Obasanjo, who yesterday in Abuja launched the 2006 Human Development Report (HDR) with the theme: “Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis,” said, “we cannot really say we are succeeding in our fight against poverty until we can get wholesome drinking water to everyone where he lives, and that is our objective.

“The global water crisis casts a shadow on sustainable development in Nigeria, as it does in most parts of Africa and the developing world. Water scarcity has impacted severely on food availability, human health, and economic development,” Obasanjo said, adding that “this leads us to the simple conclusion that conservation of environmentally friendly and sound use of water resources is crucial for socio-economic development and poverty alleviation.”

Statistics, he said have identified Africa as having the lowest total water supply coverage of any region, with only 62 per cent of the population having access to improved water supply.

“The situation is worst in rural areas, where the coverage is only 47 per cent, compared to 85 per cent in urban centres. It is predicted that the continent will face increased population pressures over the coming decades, with the greatest increase occurring in urban areas. As a result, approximately 210 million people in urban areas will need to be provided with access to water supply services, if the international coverage target for 2015 is to be met.

Obasanjo said a similar number of people in rural areas will also need to gain access to clean water.

He added that, “the Water Vision seeks to harness Africa's water resources to meet the critical development needs of its people. It calls for, among other things, strengthening institutional governance of water resources; improving water wisdom; meeting urgent water needs; and strengthening the financial base for desired water future.”

He stressed that, it is evident that water is a cross-cutting issue that goes a long way in aiding the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and preventable diseases while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability and that the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) document recognizes the fact that a large percentage of Nigerians do not have access to potable water.

He also pointed out that, “in addition, many people spend valuable time which could otherwise be invested in more economically productive activities sourcing for water for domestic use. Water supply and sanitation therefore remains a primary focus of the government under our NEEDS programme.

Accordingly, the key objectives of the government's water resources policy aim to ensure the development and management of an effective water resources policy and the protection of water resources and the environment for balanced social and economic development. This is all encapsulated in our Presidential Water initiative, tagged Water for People, Water for Life.

Funding for the sector has steadily increased from less than N8 billion in 1998 to about N55 billion in 2006, in addition to 100 billion naira set aside from the debt relief gains in the 2006 budget in the MDGs key sectors which include water
esources development. This is clear evidence of our priority attention to the sector.”

He however psoited that, the challenges not withstanding, Nigeria and all nations across the world, as well as stakeholders and development partners need to stay the course and sustain the current tempo of priority rating for water resources development in the developing countries, especially in Africa.

“The international community, under the aegis of the United Nations, urgently needs to come up with a practical, functional, and holistic framework to address all the variables to the issue of water before it evolves into a trigger of international conflict of unimaginable proportions,” he urged, while saying, “we on our part will continue to encourage international cooperation, public-private participation, as well as productive partnerships with international organizations like the UNDP in the water sector in line with evolving international best practices so as to build an enduring and sustainable water future for all our peoples.”

In his opening address, Country Representative, UNDP, Mr. Alberic Kacou notwithstanding the “serious commitment” of the Federal government towards increasing access to safe water in the country, a lot needed to be done given the fact that 35 per cent of Nigerians (40 million people) still lack access to safe water.
According to him,” it is important to acknowledge the serious commitment of the Government of Nigeria under the leadership of Mr. President to increasing access to safe water in the country. Budgetary allocation has been increased, and major investments have been made in dams and irrigation projects. According to official figures, access to water has increased to 65 per cent in Nigeria. This is commendable.

Nevertheless, a lot more still needs to be done. Two reasons make this compelling. One is that the 35 per cent of Nigerians who still lack access to safe water is huge, given that this amounts to more than 40 million Nigerians, more than the population of many countries.”

He pointed out that, “all efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria will be at risk if access to safe water is not significantly expanded, for water is critical to food security, reasonable standard of living, basic education, gender equality, child and maternal mortality, environmental protection and overall good health. And as it is clear to everyone, Africa cannot meet the 2015 deadline for the MDGs without Nigeria.”