Cross River Communities Require N7b For Water And Sanitation

by crossriverwatch admin

Cross River State Rural Water Sanitation Agency has projected that rural communities in the state will require additional N7 billion for water supply and sanitation in order to meet the 2015 deadline on Millennium Development Goals.

General Manager of the agency, Mr. Patrick Emori said in Calabar during the presentation of two Toyota Hilux vans to the Yakurr and Boki local government councils to aid implementation of Water Supply and Sanitation Support Program jointly supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), that the agency had intervened directly in water supplies and sanitation projects in five local government areas, while 13 other LGAs yet to be captured are beneficiaries of similar schemes introduced by the state government.

The state government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund and European Union, among other donor agencies had in 2010 earmarked N14.3 billion for a five-year period to meet up 75 per cent water coverage in rural areas out of which over N7bn had been released to meet the projection.

He said the vans were donated operational vehicles for water and sanitation projects in the Yakurr and Boki councils so as to consolidate on the Water Supply Sanitation Sector Reform Programs which will run from 2013-2017.

Emori said, “The state will need N14.3 billion in order to meet MDG 2015 in terms of water supply and sanitation. We had in 2010 carried out a plan in order to achieve MDG in 2015. We have fully intervened in five LGAs and have so far achieved between 70 and 80 per cent water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

“This intervention covers provision of water solar panel, motorized hand-pump boreholes and at many sites reticulated to different part of communities and schools, construction of VIP toilet, to enhance sanitation and hygiene in the communities and increase awareness on building toilets.

“On the average, we have achieved 55 per cent coverage generally. About N7bn would be required to complete the water supply and sanitation projects to meet the 2015 MDG. The state is also expanding on other schemes to meet the target.”