Dare Babalola
Nigeria’s development progress will remain incomplete without access to safe water for all citizens, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has warned.
Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of Nestlé’s Water Quality Advocacy Campaign in Abuja, Utsev emphasised that contaminated water is a leading cause of preventable diseases that threaten public health, productivity, and overall development.
“Water is life. Yet, the safety of this life-sustaining resource remains a critical challenge in our country and across the globe,” Utsev said. “Without access to safe water, our progress toward sustainable development remains incomplete.”
The minister highlighted government initiatives aimed at improving water quality, including the Nigerian Roadmap for Water Quality Management and the establishment of national water quality reference laboratories, stressing the need for collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to ensure safe water for all.
Nestlé Nigeria’s representatives noted that over 113 million Nigerians lack safe drinking water, and about 87,000 children under five die annually from diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation. They urged stakeholders to unite in addressing the crisis, emphasizing that “only quality water is life.”
