52.7m Nigerians have no access to water supply

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleman Adamu, has disclosed that no fewer than 52.7 Nigerians have no access to water supply in the country.

The Minister disclosed this today at Iyamho, during the third founders day of the Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West local government of Edo state.

Delivering a lecture titled “water, Sanitation and hygiene,” Adamu said majority of those without access to water are highly concentrated in rural areas.

He said: “Inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, population increase and rapid urbanization have created a serious deficiency in the quality of life of an average Nigerian with dire consequences on sanitation, food, security, health, employment and standard of living.”

Represented by the Managing Director of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Ahmed Saliu, Adamu said the ministry has developed immediate and long-term strategies for water sector 2016 to 2030, tagged “the water sector road map to address the problem.

He said Nigeria was not able to meet the Millennium Development Goals Target on access to water supply as a result of the decline in access to water in the rural areas.