|
|
advertisement
Nigeria World's fourth dirtiest nation -Report
By Don Bassey,
Correspondent, Abuja
Nigeria has been ranked fourth among countries with the worst sanitation practice in the world, according to a report by WaterAid, an International charity organisation working exclusively in the water sector to mark this year's World Water Day celebration.
India (772.4 million), People's Republic of China (736.9 million) and Indonesia (106.9 million), ranked first, second and third respectively o the dirtiest nations chart.
According to the report, "Sanitation is not being tackled, owing to absence of institution responsible for sanitation, lack of national budget dedicated to sanitation and low prioritisation of aid to sanitation by donors despite sanitation having played a major role in reducing mortality in their own countries".
The statement said WaterAid Nigeria, in its Country Strategy Document for 2006-2011, plans to directly facilitate-and leverage access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene promotion services for three per cent and two per cent (respectively) of national Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) water supply and sanitation targets for poor people in 30 local government areas by 2011.
It also aims to influence others to prioritise water and sanitation for the poorest people between 2006 and 2011.
It called on Nigerians to play important roles in holding those responsible to account for their stewardship, while international aid to the sector needs to double.
World Water Day is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than one billion people worldwide that lack access to clean and safe drinking water. Celebrated since 1993, World Water Day was designated in 1992 when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution. With each passing year, the observance has grown larger and stronger. The theme for this year's celebration is "Water and Culture".
The report, according to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by the Information and Communication Officer, WaterAid Nigeria, Bankole Ebisemiju, says 81.5 million Nigerians lack adequate sanitation, making the country the fourth among countries with the worst sanitary conditions behind.
advertisement