A group of environmental activists and crusaders for the provision of public utilities, especially potable water, the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), has berated the Federal and state governments for the recurrent cholera outbreaks in the country.
It insisted that the current incident has exposed the lip service policy makers and politicians pay at all levels of government pay to water and sanitation issues.
The group’s position is coming on the heels of the flooding incidents predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET), which it said, could worsen and prolong the current cholera outbreak, which has killed no fewer than 65 persons across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Executive Director of CFSF, Comrade Sani Baba, the group said the deaths recorded thus far due to the current outbreak were disturbing and unfortunate even as it cautioned that more outbreaks would occur unless the government took the issue of sustainable investment in the water sector and sanitation seriously.
“Even with the humongous funds that the federal and state governments budget for provision of water every year, it has become embarrassing that Nigeria is still listed among countries with cholera outbreaks and deaths,” Baba stated.
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He pointed out that the floods earlier predicted by NiMET may further breach and contaminate water sources across the country and expose citizens to cholera and other vectors that would undermine their health.
“The situation looks gloomy. The timing of the floods which coincides with the cholera outbreak is a recipe for more infections and deaths except government at all levels take urgent and proactive steps beyond ongoing sensitization efforts.
“The provision of water must also go beyond the urban areas to remote localities where locals depend on unwholesome sources for their domestic and other uses.”
He stressed that Nigerians must intensify efforts at x-raying and scrutinizing budgetary allocations to the water sector at the state and federal levels to be able to hold public officials accountable and responsible, as well as ensure sustainable funding of the public sector.
“As a group, CFSF will continue working with other civil society and labour groups to expose and challenge impediments to access and affordability, both of which have forced Nigerians to patronize unwholesome water,” he added.
