The Federal Government has flagged off the National Water Supply and Sanitation Data Survey that will enhance performance tracking system for Water Supply and Sanitation sub-sector.
At the flag off ceremony organized by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Istifanus Musa, said that the objective of the survey was to have updated information system on all public water supply and sanitation facilities.
Ochekpe said it was also to ascertain the percentage of population that has access to improved sources of water supply and sanitation. She said: “The Survey is yet another milestone that we intend to use to enhance the delivery of qualitative water services to Nigerians.” She added that the exercise would enable the Ministry to take stock of achievements under the MDGs targets for water and sanitation, as well as providing opportunity for laying a solid foundation for the sustainable Development Goals.
“All the efforts made so far in establishing water supply and sanitation data, which have resulted in different figures, need to be harmonized by all stakeholders to enable us have a common platform for reporting the progress of the sector,” she said. Ochekpe said that in 2006/2007, the Ministry carried out first ever national baseline survey for water supply and sanitation in the 36 states and FCT.
The survey being flagged-off now is to build on the pool of data that was established from the baseline survey. She called on all governors and chairmen of the Local Government Councils to provide the necessary supports that would make the survey a success in their areas. The Minister commended all the key stakeholders, particularly the National Bureau of Statistics, World Bank, AFDB, AFD, UNICEF, EU and WaterAid, for their efforts in developing the data base.
