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Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Ms. Evelyn Mere has said that an estimated 68 million Nigerians lack access to basic drinking water while 171million lack hand-washing facilities.
Mere made the disclosure at the inauguration of a project titled Strengthening Water and Sanitation Delivery in Lagos Nigeria which is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
She also disclosed that, “About 113 million people do not have adequate toilets facilities while 48 million people still practice open defecation.”
The project worth $300,000 is designed to help 10,000 beneficiaries have access to clean water and sanitation in Ojodu and Ikorodu North Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) of Lagos State, where the project is domiciled.
Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Hon. David Olusegun Odunmbaku, appreciated WaterAid Nigeria for choosing Ojodu in the project.
Represented by Hon. Bunmi Oluyadi, Odunmbaku said, “The provision of clean water and proper sanitation is a fundamental human right that should never be taken for granted. It is our duty as leaders to ensure that every member of our community has access to these vital resources. With this project, we aim to make a lasting impact and demonstrate our dedication to improving the lives of those we serve,” he said.
Continuing, he hoped that the intervention would be a legacy for future generations. “It is our hope that this project will leave a lasting legacy for future generations. By investing in essential services like water and sanitation, we are building a foundation for a more sustainable future,” he said.
Funder of the project, Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDSC) represented at the inauguration by Elder Christian Chigbundu was optimistic that the project will solve water and sanitation issues for many.
Introducing the church, Chigbundu said, “The name of the Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is established in almost all the continents of the world and we are also in Nigeria and we play a major role in Lagos with more than 15,000 members.”
Worried about the water and sanitation health facilities in Lagos which necessitated the funding of the project, Chigbundu, who first visited Lagos over 30 years ago, said water situation was better in the past.
“I came to Lagos over 30 years ago while then we were using public water system and during that time we used to have sanitary people who used to check the water and toilets in the homes.
“I went back to complete my education and I returned to Lagos in the year 2000, I couldn’t see the public water system anymore, I couldn’t see the toilet sanitary people anymore. I remember writing a letter to the sanitary people,” he said.
Stating further, he said, “My comment here today is that we need to make our institutions functional because when they function very well, we won’t be seeing certain things the way we are seeing them in our society today.”
Worried about many homes without water and good sanitation, he said, “It is worrisome that 45 percent of houses in Lagos today do not have access to water. It is my advice that we make those things available.
“You cannot preach the gospel to the man that does not have water to drink or the man that does not have water to wash his hands. Today we are spending $300,000, if you convert that to Naira it is over N200m. it is to ensure that people will have access to water and sanitation in their homes. So I am glad that WaterAid Nigeria has come to us and we are here,” he said.
Enjoining the beneficiary communities on maintenance, he said, “This project will be done and it is our responsibilities in our various communities to ensure that these facilities are properly managed. LDS will certainly do more.”
On how the church raised the fund, he said, “We got the fund from members of the Church and non-members. The funds are well managed and will continue to be well managed.”
Earlier in his presentation, Mr. Kolawole Banwo of WaterAid Nigeria explained the project further to participants which include members, officials of the beneficiary communities and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment.
According to Banwo, ’The project worth $300,000 shall be facilitated in Ojodu and Ikorodu North LCDAs of Lagos State to solve water and sanitation problems.”
The official inauguration of the project was done by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Engr. Nurudeen Olalekan Shodeinde who was represented by Engr. Mrs. Helen Taiwo.
