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The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu disclosed on Thursday that the federal government would declare a state of emergency on water and sanitation in the country next month.
The Minister disclosed this at the special town hall meeting on infrastructure held yesterday at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi hall, opposite UCH, Ibadan.
“I wish to inform you that for the first time in Africa, President Buhari is going to declare a state of emergency on water and sanitation, precisely on November 8, 2018,” he said.
He regretted that the existing master plan on water resources was abandoned by past administrations.
“The existing master plan on water resources in the country was abandoned and contracts were awarded without recourse to the needs of the country” he alleged.
He explained that the state of emergency will help the government focus on helping states on water projects. He revealed that the government was planning to select six cities across the country for the pilot project of providing potable water to all residents.
His words: “To realise adequate water supply, we would increase our intervention to support state governments to N3 billion annually.
“It is a shame that today, there is no single city in this country that can boast of pipe-borne water supply and 100 per cent coverage to all the citizens. This is why the President has decided to take up the responsibility of supporting water infrastructure in Nigeria.”
He added that the government will also return the monthly environmental sanitation to address issues of open defecation and other sanitation issues.
The town hall meeting which was planned by the Oyo State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism had four ministers in attendance. The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi and Minister of Water Resources, Adamu.
Others present include the host, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Bayo Adelabu, traditional rulers, several top government functionaries and other dignitaries.