Nestlé Waters Nigeria has inaugurated a community water facility to provide access to safe and clean drinking water for well over 1,000 villagers in the Maderegi suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Handing the facility to the representative of the traditional ruler of Abaji, Alhaji Mahammed, Country Business Manager of Nestlé Waters Nigeria, Jason Lambs, said effective use of the water would ensure “healthy hydration.”
“We are committed to helping people lead healthier lives as water is surely the best way to fulfill daily hydration needs. We have pledged globally to water stewardship in an effort to adopt sustainable water practices, especially in areas where we source our goods, where pur factories are located and where our suppliers and consumers live,” Lambe stresswd , adding that “Local communities play a very important role in achieving this objectives”
The new facility makes it the second community water project to be donated in Nigeria by the company which started water business in Nigeria in 2005, after Korogboji community in Agbara, Ogun State, the host to the first water factory.
At the inauguration, graced by the Third Secretary, Embassy of Switzerland, Lionel Rochat and the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abdulrahman Ajiya, the Marketing Manager, Mrs. Gloria Nwabuike, said over 800 students, 300 teachers across 140 schools have been trained in Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Abaji in partnership with Project WET, an international NGO, to create awareness about water conservation and proper hydration.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged the organised private sector to partner her initiatives to attain the sustainable development goal, just as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources. Mrs Rabi Jimeta commended Nestle for the provision of the facilities in Nigeria.
“This is one initiative that the Federal Government craves from the private sector to attain the sustainable development goals. We sincerely appreciate and recommend the Nestlé Nigeria module of Corporate Social Responsibility if we must develop,” Jimeta stated.
She added that government was working towards generating electricity from the over 375 billion cubic metres water potential of the country to create jobs and ensure food security.
Jimeta, who was represented by the Director Of Hydrology in the Ministry, Mr. John Ochigbo, said the vast quantities of water in the country are held in the small and large dams, while he stressed that “appreciable progress has been made to achieve set goals under the Sustainable Development Goal with access to water and sanitation for all.”
She added that government has embarked on integrated approach to improve on water supply coverage, food security, productivity, risk management and employment generation.
Appealing to Nigerians to ensure effective management of water, the PS said the revised National Water Resources master plan has been finalised with assistance from the JICA for the use of the public.
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