City Crime
‘Nigeria Requires $5.7m To Achieve Water Sanitation Services’
As Nigeria moves towards the attainment of an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status by 2025, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says, the country requires an average 5.7 million dollars to achieve water and sanitation services in a local government area.
UNICEF Chief of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Mr. Zaid Jurji who disclosed this when the organised private sector on water, sanitation and hygiene (OPS-WASH) met with the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu in Abuja.
Jurji who appreciated the current effort by the government towards ending open defecation in the country however said current efforts must tally with increasing population.
We are close to 200 million people and with the increasing population, if every year, there is an increase of service for five million people. It is barely enough as we are competing with natural population increase. So if we do five million people, we have done nothing. We are just breaking even, so anything to be measured toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be done beyond that, this is to give you the scale of the problem.
With our unit of intervention, we have been working for so many years now with the Ministry of Water Resources and at the state level, every local government area requireS an average of $5.7 million to achieve water and sanitation services.
He added that UNICEF would continue to support organisations and communities to promote Sustainable Development Goals such as ending open defecation practice and overall hygiene promotion in the country.
He also urged organisations to coordinate their activities to halt duplication of efforts, promotion of effective implementation and monitoring for the programme success.
Earlier, the minister; while welcoming the team, pledged government’s commitment to partner with the organised private sector in financing and improving corporate social responsibilities in the fight against open defecation practice in the country.
Adamu said the role of the private sector in the revitalisation of the WASH sector cannot be overlooked, being the engine room for economic growth.
The minister said the federal government had targeted a zero open defecation goal by 2025. Saying with commitment from all stakeholders, this would be achieved. According to him, the lack of synergy among development partners’ interventions has led to groundwater depletion largely from unregulated activities.
There is urgent need for sanity in the water resoruces sector.
We need to measure all social impact of current interventions, is not just about figures and monies, we need to synergise all efforts for the benefit of all Nigerias” Adamu said.
Meanwhile, Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of Diageo Plc, has announced a long-term water intervention project across five states in Nigeria.
In addition to providing clean, potable water in these state the multinational orgnaisationis also supporting the federal government to intensify hand washing culture in public places to halt lassa fever.
The beneficiaries of the project are Edo, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa States and F.C.T.
Titilola Alabi, society manager at Guinness, Nigeria, disclosed this during the meeting with Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja.
Alabi said: currently in this financial year, we are committed to establishing five new water schemes in Abuja, Edo, Kano Kebbi and Nasarawa states.
We have chosen the communities in these states carefully following a needs assessment and for the benefit of a larger population.”
Currently our water of life project, created to provide water to under-served communities by solar powered water systems in providing water to over one million Nigerians. We have 33 of such water schemes across, 22 states.
Also speaking Dr Nicholas Igwe, national coordinator, organised private sector of wash, noted that the role of private sector in scaling up water and sanitation in the country could not be over-emphasised.
By: Amina Ngoma
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned against the practice of scooping fuel from accidented tankers, noting it has led to the loss of many lives and property.
The agency’s Head of Operations in Ibadan, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju, cautioned during a sensitisation programme on tanker fire accidents, held on Wednesday at Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) of Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was held in collaboration with the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) in Akinyele LGA and other stakeholders.
Olanrewaju said Akinyele LGA was selected for the awareness campaign because of its strategic location as a trailer route from the northern to the southern part of the country.
“These agencies felt that it was necessary to bring this important message to critical stakeholders in communities under the Akinyele LGA, where we have major trailer parks.
“The campaign kick-started in Ogun; we will soon move to Osun.
“The focus is to drive strong sensitisation against the scooping of fuel at the grassroots level, especially for local governments along the trailer routes to reduce needless loss of lives and property,” he said.
He charged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to enforce the laws against underage driving and ensure the proper certification and retraining of drivers.
The Administrative Secretary of OYSEMA, Mrs Ojuolape Busari, said that Community Development Associations (CDAs) were involved in the campaign to reach a larger number of people.
Busari noted that people still scoop fuel from accidented tankers because there had not been any serious punishment attached to the offence.
She, therefore, called for stiff penalties for anyone caught perpetrating the act.
“Apart from the risk of fire outbreak that may occur during the practice, it is stealing, which is a serious offence,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Akinyele LGA, Hon. Akinwole Akinyele, suggested that fuel transportation should be handled through the rail system, while leaving tankers for intra-city fuel transportation.
The chairman called for an urgent review of laws and policies related to fire services and road safety to meet the urgent and modern demands.
He said that the implementation of stricter fuel transportation regulations, vehicle maintenance, drivers’ training and retraining, and safer fuel handling practices remained crucial to the fuel distribution system in Nigeria.
“The attendant costs of tanker fire accidents have been huge, both in terms of the high number of fatalities and the loss or destruction of property, environmental damage, and public infrastructure,” he said.
NAN reports that the event featured technical sessions, lectures, and presentations from the FRSC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire Service, traditional and market leaders, among others.
…To Confer National Honours On Select Lawmakers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a presidential address before a joint session of the National Assembly today as part of events marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.
The event is scheduled to be held in the House of Representatives chamber of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi.
The statement referenced an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, officially notifying lawmakers of the proceedings.
According to the memorandum, the special joint sitting will begin at 11:00 a.m. with preliminary activities before the arrival of President Tinubu, who is expected at noon.
Democracy Day is observed annually on June 12 in remembrance of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible poll since independence.
The election was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola but was annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida (retd).
The theme for the 2025 celebration is “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
President Tinubu is attending the event as the Special Guest of Honour and is expected to use the platform to reflect on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and present his administration’s vision for the future.
The session will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the President will confer national honours on select legislators in what organisers describe as part of efforts to recognise contributions to democratic governance.
The National Assembly views the event as an important marker of Nigeria’s political evolution.“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the statement read.
“It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
Lawmakers also used the occasion to urge Nigerians to reflect on the country’s democratic progress and to renew their commitment to national unity and inclusive governance.
“The House of Representatives calls on all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has declared today as a public holiday, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration held every June 12.
June 12 was officially designated as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018, to honour the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the nation’s history and won by Chief MKO Abiola.
In a statement announcing the holiday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated citizens on the occasion of 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in the country.
“June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign, and peace is sustained and our future assured,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
Rivers women, under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for SIM, have celebrated the second year anniversary of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, with praise and thanksgiving.
The women, who gathered at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt, last Thursday, said that no matter the prevailing circumstances in the State, Fubara has shown great capacity in leadership and deserves to be celebrated.
They emphasised that their gathering was to thank God for what He has done through Fubara and the expected restoration and peace within the State.
They commended Rivers people and all Nigerians who have been standing by the Governor and Rivers people all through these trying times, saying it is now time for peace, reconciliation and restoration.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Dr. Queen Idanyingi Karibi Botoye, said the women have been consistently praying for the State and its leaders.
She urged the leaders of the State to put their differences behind and think about the people first and come together to advance the interest of the State.
The women assured that their prayers will continue until God restores the glory of the State and ensures greater harmony amongst its leaders and people.