Around two-thirds of Nigeria's population, according to the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, do not have access to clean water.
Nigeria is thought to have a population of around 200 million people, of which roughly 133 million lack access to drinking water.
The Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEF, Jane Bevan, stated that although the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and states were investing in water, the sustainability of these investments had remained a significant challenge during a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2023 World Water Day.
Sadly, Nigerian progress remains stagnant, leaving 2/3 of the country's population without access to safe drinking water.
"While the ministry and states are investing in water, sustainability remains an issue. So, it's quite challenging to update outdated schemes when new ones come up, according to the speaker.
She urged for adequate development in investments, pointing out that Nigeria would suffer greatly if there was insufficient access to water.
"This is why UNICEF works in the field of sanitation, as children are those who suffer the most. The availability of safe water must therefore be considered.
More investments are required, as Nigeria currently has one of the lowest investment levels in the area. There is still much work to be done because Nigeria receives less than 3% of all investments, according to Bevan.
Seyi Fabiyi, a specialist in natural resources and the environment at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, stated that water was essential to the FAO's mission.
According to him, the agricultural sector uses 72% of the freshwater that is withdrawn, and he added that water resources are crucial to the food system and should be adequately managed.
Agnes Aneke, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources' Permanent Secretary, stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to working with donors and development partners to effectively implement water policy in Nigeria.
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