The Nigerian clean water initiative

Through these ugly events, however, there is a lesson to be learned- we all need to work together, put any personal interest aside to push this nation forward.A problem that is definitely a Nigerian problem is the lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation by majority of our populace. The issue doesn’t get […]

Through these ugly events, however, there is a lesson to be learned- we all need to work together, put any personal interest aside to push this nation forward.
A problem that is definitely a Nigerian problem is the lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation by majority of our populace. The issue doesn’t get the required attention and coverage that it requires. After protecting the lives and property of the citizenry, I believe access to clean drinking water is the next most important job of the government.
I did a little research on the percentage of our citizens that don’t have access to clean water and I was shocked at how high the number is. It is our collective responsibility to do the little we can to address this serious problem together.
Upon learning about a community in my local government area that had no access to clean water, I decided to visit and assist them in any way that I could. After assessing their dire situation, I bought Procter and Gamble’s “water purification packets that works like magic”.
 It makes dirty water clean and safe enough to drink. It was truly a remarkable experience for me as it opened my eyes to a serious issue that I knew it existed in Nigeria but never thought it was that bad until I saw it with my own eyes. What I saw was unbelievable. The water that was available to the community was so dirty that I couldn’t imagine anyone using it for anything, let alone to drink.
Yet, the community is left with no choice because that’s the only water the people have access to. You don’t have to be extremely rich to make a difference. One Procter and Gamble’s water purification packet cost just 10 cents (N16) that can create 10 litres of clean water. $1 (N160) gives a child clean water for 50 days and $7.5 (N1, 212) gives a child clean water for a year.
As this is a community that I pass every time I go to my hometown, I am now certain that one doesn’t have to look far to see similar communities in need of assistance near him/her. I never knew the situation was that critical; the community has been living, drinking and using that dirty water for generations.
The stats of people that don’t have access to clean drinking water and people that are at risk to water related diseases is just appalling, to say the least. 70 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water, which amounts to 43.75% of our entire population. Over 112 million people don’t have access to adequate sanitation, almost two thirds of our populace. Over 97,000 children die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation in Nigeria.
Association of Businessmen and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey.
Fahad Garba Aliyu, [email protected]