Sani Bello committed to improved sanitation, Urban Water service delivery – Mamman Musa

Gov. Sani Bello



By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Executive Governor of Niger State, Sani Bello is highly committed to providing improved sanitation and Urban Water service delivery to the people, Niger State Commissioner for Water Resources and Dam Development, Hon. Mamman Musa has said.

Hon. Musa made this know in Abuja recently during the official launch ceremony of the E-WASH activity, a new urban water and sanitation activity that will support the efforts of six Nigerian states to improve the health and hygiene of their populations through improved delivery of water and sanitation services by the United States government, through the US. Agency for International Development (USAID),

The event which took place in Abuja within the week saw USAID providing assistance to Niger Abia, Delta, Imo, Sokoto, and Taraba states to strengthen the governance, financial, and technical viability of their state water agencies under the four-year, $60.4 million Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activity (E-WASH),

Musa noted that the selection of Niger State was due to uncommon transformation going on in the state piloted by Gov. Sani Bello who has virtually touched all sectors with more improvement on water delivery service.

Musa said it was a benefit and competitive drive by USIAD and Federal Ministry of Water Resource on access to urban water and improved sanitation.

Also speaking, USAID/Nigeria Mission Director, Mr. Stephen M. Haykin, said he is confident that USAID, and their new partner state governments, collaborative development partners, and the business community, can share respective expertise, capabilities and resources to develop more professional and accountable water and sanitation utilities.

“According to the United Nations, about 57 million people lack access to safe drinking water in Nigeria, and each year, water-bome illnesses kill around one million Nigerian children under the age of five.

“W ASH,” Which will work with Water Boards in Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba states to improve water and sanitation service delivery.

“There is no question that access to a reliable supply of clean water and modern sanitation services is important to the quality of community life here in Nigeria and around the world. Access to these services helps a nation produce strong, healthy, and Vibrant citizens, and the lack thereof, leads to millions of preventable deaths, largely among children, every year in Nigeria.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you here today for your commitment to our shared development goals for the people of Abia, Delta, Imo, Niger, Sokoto, and Taraba states -and indeed all Nigeria, as we embark on this important journey.

“As you may know, the United Nations estimates about 57 million people lack access to safe drinking water in Nigeria. Each year, waterborne illnesses kill as many as a million Nigerian children under the age of five. Reliable safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and good hygiene could have prevented many of those deaths.