The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsav has called on stakeholders, philanthropists and the private sector to partner with the government to ensure the supply of safe, clean and hygienic water in Nigeria.
Professor Utsav made the call during a presentation on “Effective Public-Private Partnership for the Supply of Safe, Clean and Hygienic Water” at the Water Quality Dialogue tagged “We are what we drink, in Abuja.
The minister said to achieve sustainable development Goal 6 of ensuring access to water and sanitation for all) by 2030, there was a need for private-public partnership.
He said, “Collaboration by all relevant Stakeholders, transparency, and clear roles and responsibilities are essential for successful PPPs in safe water supply management.”
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, represented by Iloputaife Adaora, reeled out the agency’s guidelines for water treatment and the treatment processes.
“She said, “Potable drinking water systems use different water treatment methods to provide safe drinking water for their communities. Facilities that produce potable water, use a series of water treatment steps, including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
”As part of the strategies of NAFDAC in achieving its mandate, regulations and guidelines are put in place to ensure effective water treatment for packaged water in Nigeria”
Dr Chukwumezie Okolo, speaking for the private sector, said they are poised to partner with any government and its agencies tackling waterborne diseases and improve the quality of life of Nigerians
While presenting a paper on “Driving Innovative Technologies & Solutions for Water Treatment in Africa, Okolo, who is also the President of Rite Place Group, said, Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots need access not just to alternative sources of water supply but more importantly clean, safe, and hygienic water”.
“We want to eradicate waterborne diseases, improve quality of life, and save people money so they can live better, and we are willing, ready, and open to partnering with any Government Ministry and Agency, as well as reputable organizations in the private, public, and non-profit/development sectors on this laudable Project of fighting waterborne diseases”.
The Acting General Manager, FCT Water Board Represented by Mr. Mohammed Shehu who spoke on “Sustainable Water Treatment Solutions” emphasized the need to meet the global demand for safe drinking water in Nigeria but to do it, water treatment must be taken seriously.
He said, ”Urbanization, population, industrialization and climate change have impacted negatively on water sources, the treatment processes undertaken by the FCT Water board are top notch for delivering safe, clean and hygienic water.
Water Quality: Minister calls for partnership on safer water supply in Nigeria
