By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo
A Civil Society Organisation, Akwa Ibom WASH Policy Cluster (IBOMWASH+), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other stakeholders have urged Akwa Ibom government to increase funding for water projects in the state.
This is even as available data has shown that about 80% of the state population lack access to clean water and toilet facilities.
Speaking during a two days event to mark the World Water Day titled “Accelerating Change”, in Uyo, recently, the Project Director, IBOMWASH+, Prof Gabriel Umoh, regretted that the state has only attained 11% in Open Defecation Free status.
With only one out of its 31 LGAs, Nsit Atai, being certified Open – Defecation – Free (ODF) status in 2019, Umoh, a professor of agricultural and development economics, said such negligence of the water sector has exposed the population to danger of water-borne diseases and stressed the need for serious reforms to reposition the sector.
The Director, who is also the CEO, African Human Development Centre (AHDC), tasked the state government on the need for more political will to bridge the gap through proper funding and strengthening of the state WASH policy.
“In spite of the efforts so far by government, our work in the state WASH sectors has shown that there still exists huge gap to be filled if the state must keep to the mission of the United Nations’ sustainable sanitation for all in 2030, as well as achieve the Executive Order 009 targeting ODF status in 2023.
“The budgetary allocation to WASH sector has been very low; WASH budget as a percentage of the state’s annual budget has remained less than one percent. The state is yet to have a clearer ODF roadmap and WASH policy.” He explained.
However, the commissioner for lands and water resources, Captain Iniobong Ekong (Rtd), who was represented by Mrs Asumpta Lawrence Udousoro, Head, Water Resources in the ministry, stressed that government remained commited to addressing the WASH sector challenges.
“The state government is putting up modalities to revamp the sector by rehabilitating the dilapidated infrastructure for adequate provision of water for its citizens.
“We are optimistic that in the nearest future, water will be provided in sufficient quantity and quality, and adequately managed for sustainability. This will also reduce incessant drilling of boreholes across the state, which could be catastrophic in the near future.” Ekong said.
It would be recalled that the water resources sector management and regulation bill was signed into law during the administration of Akwa ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel last year.
Despite the water bill being signed into law and the establishment of the Ministry of Lands/Water Resources, the water management agency, AK-RUWATSAN and the state waste management agency, over 77 percent of the population in Akwa Ibom State remains under threat of epidemic with poor access to water, hygiene and sanitation.
