In Nigeria, USAID, UNICEF invest N4.1 billion on water and sanitation

By theGazetteNGR

Editorinchief

Posted: June 3, 2021 at 3:22 AM, Updated: September 21, 2022 at 7:46 AM

Sokoto and Kebbi states in Nigeria had the lowest levels of access to basic water services, at 38% and 39%, respectively

The United States Agency for International Development has awarded the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund $10 million (N4.1 billion) over three years to support the Nigerian government’s initiative to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in the northwest states of Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

The USAID-UNICEF effort sought to provide safe drinking water, improved hygiene, and improved sanitation to more than 300,000 people in Northwest Nigeria.

Dr. Anne Patterson, the USAID Mission Director, said in a statement on Wednesday that this will help minimize water-borne infections, particularly among youngsters.

â€œUSAID is dedicated to ensuring clean water for more Nigerians. This new activity with UNICEF
will help reduce waterborne diseases to keep more people, especially
children, healthy.â€

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
#BBNaija: Being the youngest is uncomfortable – Saskay
Film + TV
MOVIE: The Coming (2020) Full Download
Top Stories
More humanitarian aid is sought by the FG, UN, and NGOs for victims of the North East insurgency.

Peter Hawkins, UNICEFâ€™s Country Representative for
Nigeria also said, â€œ

We are extremely grateful for the
timely and much-needed WASH support from the US government. The ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with prevailing challenges and gaps in WASH
services in northwest Nigeria is detrimental to the development of
children and rural communities. This assistance is a testament to
USAIDâ€™s commitment to the children and people of Nigeria.â€

According to the 2019 National Outcome Routine Mapping of WASH Services, 30% of Nigerians do not have access to basic water services, and only 10% have access to safe water. It went on to say that while 44% of Nigerians had access to basic sanitation, 23%, or 46 million individuals, did not have access to good sanitation.

According to the report, Sokoto and Kebbi states in Nigeria had the lowest levels of access to basic water services, at 38% and 39%, respectively.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a breaking news tip, celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the theGazetteNGR entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 08051600130 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.