Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, has called for accelerated disbursement of the $700 million to up-scale implementation and impact of the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH. Utsev said this in his address at the Midterm Review Workshop for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH, Programme, held in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with the World Bank Team. He acknowledged that the meeting was crucial as he described it as pivotal moment in the journey to ensure “every Nigerian has access to clean water, improved sanitation, and better hygiene”, and added that the support from partners of the programme has been immense, therefore, he pointed out that the World Bank is not just about infrastructure but transforming lives promoting health, and sustainable development across Nigeria.
The Seven States are participating in the programme; Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau. He said “The $700 million SURWASH Programme is a bold and ambitious initiative with an implementation period of six years, effective from 14 February 2022 and closing date of June 30, 2027. The Programme Department Objectives, PDO, are to strengthen sector policies and institutions for improved services as well as a reflection of our commitment to addressing the challenges of water and sanitation in both urban, small towns, and rural areas. Presently, the implementation is ongoing in seven States participating in the programme; Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau. “Dear esteemed stakeholders, it is with concern that I bring to your attention the current status of the Programmes financial disbursements. By the end of 2023, we had anticipated cumulative disbursements. By the end of 2023, we had a cumulative disbursement of $133 million out of the allocated $700 million. However, as of December 2023. The total cumulative disbursement stood at $80.3 million. This shortfall calls for immediate reflection and action to ensure that we meet our commitments going forward.
“Thus, our collective efforts are crucial to accelerating disbursements and ensuring that the funds are utilised to achieve the intended impact of the Programme.” Meanwhile, the Minister commended the collaboration with the World Bank, which he also described its support as instrumental in improving water supply and sanitation across Nigeria, and added that that there have been technical expertise, financial support, and global experience the Bank has brought to the table, and added that the commitment from the seven participating states remains crucial to achieve more under the Programme, and disclosed his engagement with the Governors of the states. On his part, Director Water Supply, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mukaila Babarinde, said the target of the Programme was to provide 6.1 million Nigerians from the participating states with clean and safe water, 500 communities with sanitation facilities and improved sanitation services in schools.
A Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist with the World Bank, Awa Diagne who spoke on behalf of the Country Director of the Bank said the goal of the Programme is to empower countries with water needs and sanitation services as well as to ensure that no community in Nigeria is left behind in sustainable development.
