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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

FG intensifies efforts to tackle poor water quality nationwide

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Nigeria's Federal Government is intensifying efforts to improve national water quality through a new campaign.
  • The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is collaborating with Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH).
  • A training program based on a new Water Quality Handbook aims to standardize water management practices nationwide.

The Nigerian Federal Government is stepping up its efforts to enhance water quality across the nation, signaling a renewed focus on public health and sanitation. The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has launched a collaborative initiative with Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH).

We need to adopt a unified and standardised strategy for addressing water quality challenges across the country.

— Joseph UtsevMinister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasizing the need for a national approach to water quality issues.

This partnership is implementing the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign, centered around a newly developed Water Quality Handbook. This handbook serves as a standard reference for managing water quality in both communities and institutions. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, represented by Director Habu Jamilu, emphasized the need for a unified strategy to address the country's water quality challenges.

Minister Utsev stated that the handbook provides comprehensive guidance, covering the entire water quality chain from source protection to household handling, testing, and treatment. It also addresses the impact of climate change on water quality. He urged participants at a national Training of Trainers workshop to build the capacity of other personnel and stakeholders, stressing that collaboration among government agencies and private sector entities is crucial for success.

We want people to know exactly what they drink and how it affects their health.

— Dr Nicholas IgweNational Coordinator of OPS-WASH, explaining the campaign's goal of raising public awareness about water safety.

Dr. Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator of OPS-WASH, highlighted that the campaign signifies a shift from merely providing water access to ensuring the safety of water consumed by Nigerians. He stressed the importance of public understanding regarding water characteristics and the health consequences of contamination. Igwe called for stronger involvement from state governments to ensure the training and its messages effectively reach communities at all levels.

We need stronger involvement by state governments, particularly

— Dr Nicholas IgweNational Coordinator of OPS-WASH, calling for greater support from state governments to ensure the campaign's reach.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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