By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has said it will partner United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to tackle the menace of flooding, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene(WASH) Services in the country.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof.Joseph Utsev, stated this when the UNESCO’s Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Abdourahammanne Diallo and members of UNESCO paid him a courtesy visit to his office on Friday in Abuja.
The minister stressed that flooding comes with hazards that negatively impact on both the people and the economy and therefore called on UNESCO to collaborate with Nigeria in the area of flood management, particularly in groundwater management.
He noted that UNESCO’s package for Nigeria and Africa is fundamental in the areas of flood management, water supply, water quality components, irrigation, and hydrology, among others.
The minister told his visitors that the Clean Nigeria Campaign Initiative of the Federal Government, which aims to achieve the goal of making the country Open Defecation-Free(ODF) by 2025, is ongoing.
He assured that the Ministry would collaborate with UNESCO to propagate the campaign, build more toilets, and increase sensitisation among the populace.
While highlighting the critical nature of water conservation, Utsev called for increased collaboration between the Ministry and UNESCO in preparation for the upcoming World Water Day, slated for March 22.
In his remarks, the Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, Mr. Abdourahammanne Diallo, stressed the crucial role of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in the well-being of the citizenry.
He congratulated Nigeria on her progress within the UNESCO Intergovernmental Programmes and assured of support from UNESCO to assist the ministry in achieving its mandate in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration.
