Water Ministry Signs MOU for Clean Nigeria Project
In the bid to continually drive the enabling environment for private sector players to contribute and invest across the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene value chain which can make significant contribution to the Nation’s economic indices, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reckitt Benckiser on CLEAN NAIJA PROJECT.
This event took place in Abuja on 15th August, 2022.
Speaking at the occasion, the Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu FNSE, FAEng recounted that the Ministry’s effort in actualizing it’s mandate, have given birth to some initiatives geared towards improving access to sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Having identified the Private sector/stakeholders in the pursuit of the Ministry’s mandate, Adamu said, ” we understand as Government the need to create an enabling environment and framework that incentivises the participation of the Private sector in service delivery”.
Adamu revealed that a coordinating platform known as OPWASH (Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) was launched in 2019 with the mandate of ensuring effective coordination of the Private sector interventions and aimed at reducing Nigeria’s poor indices on WASH .
Earlier, the Group Manager, Reckitt Benkizer Sub Saharan Africa , Akbar Ali Shah said that the main objective of the company is to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world and it’s an honour that the Ministry of Water Resources finds her worthy of partnership in it’s “Clean Nigeria Initiative”.
Akbar revealed that Reckitt through it’s Dettol brand have initiated Hygiene educational programs, to mention but a few and her resolve to being a part of the reason why Nigeria will accomplish one of it’s objective which is, reducing diarrhoea related child mortality, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, via the “Clean Naija Initiative”.
The group Manager while expressing gratitude said, ” Reckitt Nigeria is commiting to partner with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in the area of WASH on Awareness Building, Eco-syatem Creation, Infrastructure Development and Behavioural Change in order to achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria”.
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Meanwhile, the Memorandum of Understanding details initiatives on Awareness Creation, Stakeholders’ collaboration and infrastructural development which is intended to contribute to reduction in diarrhoea disease occasioned by poor Sanitation and Hygiene practices, improvement in Sanitation and Hygiene services; and elimination of open defecation in line with the objectives of the *Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign*
The Permanent Secretary FMWR Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, mni assured the Group Manager Reckit of the cooperation of the Ministry in the work towards meeting the SDGs 6, which is Water and Sanitation for All.
In another development, the Minister of inaugurated the Memorandum of Understanding framework with the Federal Ministry of Environment to ensure the target of SDG’s (6) are met between now and 2030 which is to ensure *Water and Sanitation for all*
“Team work, collaboration and synergy of efforts will help us to achieve our greater goal”
Then Honourable Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman H.Adamu FNSE,FAEng said this on Monday 15th August, 2022 at a Meeting between Federal Ministry of Environment and Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja.
Adamu hinted that meeting the SDG’s 6 is the responsibility of Federal Ministry of Water Resources but can only be actualized with the collaboration of other Ministries. Speaking further he said “when development partners come in, they want to see policies and institutional arrangements in place to enhance benefiting from the support we can receive from them”.
The Minister stressed that collaboration is key to fast tracking progress to achieve success at both Federal and state levels as we are all working for a common goal for our country.
The Hon Minister of Environment, Barr Muhammed Abdulahi in his response said his Ministry is ready to work with the Ministry of Water Resources to achieve a common goal for the benefit of the Nation.
“I am here to forge a synergy and ensure going forward that we have a very robust National Policy on sanitation that takes care of virtually every angle of sanitation which I feel will be more robust and more encompassing if it is done jointly by the two Ministries.
He added that to achieve this “we will have a task force of experts by the two Ministries to look at the various documents as it addresses Sanitation and Water Resources Ministry and the Ministry of Environment so as to see how they can be harmonized towards one document as a National Policy that will be all encompassing for sanitation. Also we can invite other stakeholders in the sanitation sector to join hands with us in this National assignment.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Esther Didi Walson-Jack,mni in her opening remark expressed her deep commitment to share information as necessary and work together to ensure the target is met which is to bring sanitation up to scale in the country towards promoting positive impact.
Kenechukwu Offie,
Director Press.
FMWR,
15/8/2022
