WaterAid Nigeria, in partnership with Cummins Water Works, has launched a N1.3 billion three-year project to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) service delivery and improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services within communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Lagos State.
While the projects in Lagos are located in Ikorodu North and Ojodu Local Council Development Areas, the project in Abuja will be implemented in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils, specifically at Government Secondary School, Zuba, Sabon Gari Community, and Byazhin Community and School.
The project, with the theme “Improving Access To Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria,” will focus on rehabilitating and constructing water schemes, sanitation facilities, water kiosks, and also strengthening government and community structures, with particular attention to the health and empowerment of women and youths.
The overall objective of the project, according to Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, is to improve access to sustainable WASH services in user communities, increase hygiene and sanitation behavior change campaigns to maximize the benefits of good WASH services, as well as strengthening governance and institutional arrangements to deliver improved WASH services.
“One in ten people still don’t have even a basic clean water supply close to home. A lack of access to this life-saving service means women are left to bear the brunt of walking miles and spending valuable hours collecting water.
“Everyone can live a more fulfilled, dignified, and healthy life with the opportunities that safe water, sanitation, and hygiene bring. WaterAid Nigeria will continue to collaborate to transform lives, deliver desired health outcomes, address the global water crisis, and improve sanitation in Abuja and Lagos,” she said.
The Managing Director, Cummins West Africa, Mark Oni-Okeke, in his remarks, said the project is all about caring and giving back to society, especially to help women and children have access to clean water at all times.
“Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene are fundamental rights of every human being, especially mothers and children who need access to clean water, proper sanitation practices, and a healthy environment to ensure families live better lives. With these available, we would be one step closer to creating a society that fosters healthy living as a priority for everyone without discrimination.
“As an organization, we are investing in improving the lives of persons in the communities where we have a presence. We believe that our partnership with WaterAid Nigeria to implement the WASH project in Nigeria, starting with Lagos and Abuja, will tremendously impact the lives of the beneficiaries and their respective communities. With our employees serving as volunteers in the project, alongside the WaterAid team, we would be reemphasizing and living out our culture of care.
“The project is all about caring and giving back to the society in which we operate. The world will not exist if we don’t look out for each other. I’m really proud of today’s event. I’m grateful to Cummins for investing and giving back in the society where we’ve been operating for over 18 years in Nigeria, and I’m happy with the impact it’s going to have on humanity, especially our young children. I call on other organizations like ours to also look into supporting and giving back to the society in which they operate as well.
“We have given $1.3 million, which is over a billion naira for this project, and the project locations are mainly in Lagos and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and this is basically to support our water works in these locations, providing access to water for both women and children in areas where water scarcity is rampant.”
According to the 2021 Water Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) statistics, 45 percent of people in Lagos State lack basic water supply services, 38 percent lack access to sanitation, and 65 percent do not have access to hygiene services. In Abuja, 82 percent of the population does not have access to safely managed water supply services, 48 percent lack access to sanitation, 82 percent do not have access to hygiene services, and 30 percent of the population practices open defecation (OPD).
The project seeks to reach a total of 186,047 people. 11,500 people will have access to clean water, 6,547 people will have access to decent toilets, while 168,000 people will be reached through hygiene promotion.
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