Nigeria Ranks 3rd Globally In Poor Water And Sanitation Access

Nigeria ranks third on the list of countries with inadequate water supply and sanitation coverage globally, Godknows Igali, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has said.

Igali, who was speaking at the 11th session of Development Partners Coordination Meeting, made the observation in reference to the recent global progress report by World Health Organisation and UNICEF on water and sanitation.

He said it was "heartbreaking" that Nigeria was still off track on the MDGs target for the water sector.

"Nigeria has obtained third position as one of the world's poorest countries in gaining access to water and sanitation," he said. "The World Health Organisation and UNICEF report for 2012 ranked Nigeria third behind China and India, as countries with the largest population without adequate water and sanitation.

"The challenge is critical as women and children trek long distances to fetch water from streams and ponds which are most times contaminated."

Thanks to our Government or what do you think?