The Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has queried Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, on statements credited to her that about 70 per cent Nigerians have access to potable and safe water for drinking and domestic use.
Ochekpe was reported to have said that 70 per cent of Nigerians have access to water 24 hours daily and seven days a week at the sidelines the 24th World Water Week themed, “Water and Energy” in Stockholm, Sweden.
The minister also said the nation was working towards 100 per cent access by Nigerians.But ERA/FoEN, in a statement, described the minister’s claims as puzzling and one that would contradict evidence on the ground which shows that figures are merely peddled while majority of Nigerians actually lack safe and portable water for drinking and domestic use.
“We are disturbed at the minister’s claims at a time that industrial pollution and other careless practices continue to harm the environment and water. Water pollution is rife in the entire Niger Delta as mirrored in communities like Ogoni in Rivers State where benzene and other carcinogens have made their water totally unusable, portable and clean water remains elusive”, said ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Ojo.
“It is so worrisome that huge votes allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources yearly and a host of water projects across the country that have gulped billions of naira have not translated to taps gushing with water. Rather than make unverifiable claims, government should be telling us why they are now veering into the privatization of water to further deny Nigerians their fundamental human rights to water.
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