The Nation Newspaper

Tag: water

  • Food and water poisoning: Cholera and other bacteria

    You may be forgiven to think that cholera no longer exists. In my teen years, cholera was a scourge in Nigeria so much that a very popular Juju musician ensured as part of his campaign to prevent the illness from spreading, sang an indelible memorial songs to cholera. Folks who lived through the 1970s and 1980’s will recall some of these songs.

    Cholera is a state of acute diarrhoea caused by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. Like all food and water poisoning, the disease of cholera develops from contamination of our food and water. About 140,000 people die of cholera yearly, world-wide.

    I had earlier explained last week’s, what is meant by incubation. In the case of cholera, the period is about 12 hours to five days. Few infection, if any, kills faster than cholera by reason that cholera drains the individual of water and nutrients within hours of its onset and death could set in speedily. Cholera kills faster than the deadly and fearful Ebola.  It affects both adult and children and like most illnesses, children are often most severely affected.

    What are the symptoms of cholera? It should be noted that not everyone who contracted the bacteria will progress to illness. Some may just feel ill in a mild way. In minority of cases, the symptom can be very severe and sudden: the principal symptom is watery diarrhoea— frequently going to move the bowel. Nothing stays in the gut. The songs which I mentioned above, made mention of frequent watery stools and bullet –like vomiting that shoots out of mouth. While vomiting may occur, the principal problem is diarrhoea.

    Treatment:  Thank goodness that cholera can easily be treated once recognised. The key is to rehydrate the sufferer. Therefore, everyone should be aware of and know how to prepare oral rehydration therapy (ORT). All nursing mothers should also take note of how to prepare ORT (or ORS). For cholera patients, the World Health Organisation/UNICEF ORS standard sachet is to have one sachet of ORS dissolved in one litre of clean water. The water could be boiled water that is allowed to cool down and the ORS poured in. Alternatively, ORS can be prepared by adding five cubes of sugar (five level of teaspoon) plus one level spoon of salt into one litre of water. Adult patients suffering from cholera may require up to 6 L of ORS to treat moderate dehydration on the first day.

    Other patients that are severely dehydrated will require intravenous fluid being given rapidly. For children, breast feeding should be continued and antibiotics be given to both adult and children.

    I cannot overemphasise the importance of accessing skilled medical treatment as soon as possible irrespective of ORS or not

    Prevention

    Again, as in the case of all food and water poisoning, prevention steps are very important in dealing with cholera and all forms of food poisoning.

    Cooked food that is stored anywhere, such as rice stored in the fridge, should be reheated thoroughly before eating. As in typhoid, clean your hands well after defeacating. Consuming only clean water and well-cooked food is the key to preventing cholera. Boil the water if necessary. Infected food handlers should be excluded from making or handling food until he or she is clinically cleared of the infection.

    However, like most things that is wrong with Nigeria, enforcement of basic rules and laws by designated responsible persons in private and public domains is clearly the weak point in any effort to deal with and reduce food poisoning illnesses.

    Vaccination: Cholera can be prevented by vaccination. There are three types of vaccines. All three require two doses for full protection.

    Other Bacteria Poisoning Our Food:

    In general, our food and water should not contain hostile bacteria, parasites and viruses. Any time we consume such germs, we will fall ill. Other bacteria that commonly affects our health through our food and water are E.coli and listeria. No matter the bacteria, the important thing we should be aware of is to maintain  personal food hygiene, wash and clean our vegetables, reheat cooked food that had been stored and avoid street-vendor foods. We should also take note that the mere fact that a food chain  on the high street, is popular does not give it a clean slate. We should exercise discretion in our food choices.

  • ‘Agric, water priorities in Edo’s 2018 budget’

    Edo State government has stressed plans to drive rural and urban development by prioritising agriculture, potable water, roads and market-linkage initiatives for agribusiness in the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

    Special Adviser tothe Governor on Budget Mr. Joseph Eboigbe spoke in an interview with reporters in Benin City.

    He said the government would drive massive rural and urban development programmes to propel investments and improve people’s lives.

    Eboigbe said: “In the first quarter of 2018, the government will roll out urban development master plan that will enable it drive infrastructure and social development in Benin City, the state capital; Ekpoma-Uromi axis in Edo Central and Auchi in Edo North.”

    He said the government would focus on building water infrastructure in Edo North and Central, where there is acute water problem.

    The aide said the state would do this with support of the European Union, as the project will include reticulation of pipe-borne water around Uromi axis.

    “The government intends to revamp two water schemes in Edo Central, to ensure that between 2018 and 2020 drinkable water will be available to people in Edo North and Central,” he added

    Eboigbe said the government would invest in transportation infrastructure in urban and rural communities, adding: “The 2018 budget will enable the government to build roads that will connect farms to markets and industries where farm produce will be required. The roads will also give people in urban and rural areas easy access to hospitals, schools, markets and places of worship.”

  • Food and water poisoning: Cholera and other bacteria

    Food and water poisoning: Cholera and other bacteria

    You may be forgiven to think that cholera no longer exists. In my teen years, cholera was a scourge in Nigeria so much that a very popular Juju musician ensured as part of his campaign to prevent the illness from spreading, sang an indelible memorial songs to cholera. Folks who lived through the 1970s and 1980’s will recall some of these songs.

    Cholera is a state of acute diarrhoea caused by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. Like all food and water poisoning, the disease of cholera develops from contamination of our food and water. About 140,000 people die of cholera yearly, world-wide.

    I had earlier explained last week’s, what is meant by incubation. In the case of cholera, the period is about 12 hours to five days. Few infection, if any, kills faster than cholera by reason that cholera drains the individual of water and nutrients within hours of its onset and death could set in speedily. Cholera kills faster than the deadly and fearful Ebola.  It affects both adult and children and like most illnesses, children are often most severely affected.

    What are the symptoms of cholera? It should be noted that not everyone who contracted the bacteria will progress to illness. Some may just feel ill in a mild way. In minority of cases, the symptom can be very severe and sudden: the principal symptom is watery diarrhoea— frequently going to move the bowel. Nothing stays in the gut. The songs which I mentioned above, made mention of frequent watery stools and bullet –like vomiting that shoots out of mouth. While vomiting may occur, the principal problem is diarrhoea.

    Treatment:  Thank goodness that cholera can easily be treated once recognised. The key is to rehydrate the sufferer. Therefore, everyone should be aware of and know how to prepare oral rehydration therapy (ORT). All nursing mothers should also take note of how to prepare ORT (or ORS). For cholera patients, the World Health Organisation/UNICEF ORS standard sachet is to have one sachet of ORS dissolved in one litre of clean water. The water could be boiled water that is allowed to cool down and the ORS poured in. Alternatively, ORS can be prepared by adding five cubes of sugar (five level of teaspoon) plus one level spoon of salt into one litre of water. Adult patients suffering from cholera may require up to 6 L of ORS to treat moderate dehydration on the first day.

    Other patients that are severely dehydrated will require intravenous fluid being given rapidly. For children, breast feeding should be continued and antibiotics be given to both adult and children.

    I cannot overemphasise the importance of accessing skilled medical treatment as soon as possible irrespective of ORS or not

    Prevention

    Again, as in the case of all food and water poisoning, prevention steps are very important in dealing with cholera and all forms of food poisoning.

    Cooked food that is stored anywhere, such as rice stored in the fridge, should be reheated thoroughly before eating. As in typhoid, clean your hands well after defeacating. Consuming only clean water and well-cooked food is the key to preventing cholera. Boil the water if necessary. Infected food handlers should be excluded from making or handling food until he or she is clinically cleared of the infection.

    However, like most things that is wrong with Nigeria, enforcement of basic rules and laws by designated responsible persons in private and public domains is clearly the weak point in any effort to deal with and reduce food poisoning illnesses.

    Vaccination: Cholera can be prevented by vaccination. There are three types of vaccines. All three require two doses for full protection.

    Other Bacteria Poisoning Our Food:

    In general, our food and water should not contain hostile bacteria, parasites and viruses. Any time we consume such germs, we will fall ill. Other bacteria that commonly affects our health through our food and water are E.coli and listeria. No matter the bacteria, the important thing we should be aware of is to maintain  personal food hygiene, wash and clean our vegetables, reheat cooked food that had been stored and avoid street-vendor foods. We should also take note that the mere fact that a food chain  on the high street, is popular does not give it a clean slate. We should exercise discretion in our food choices.

  • Food and water poisoning: Typhoid disease

    Let me be clear about this from the outset and let the reader take good note of my warning: typhoid disease is deadly.  The good news though is that if we stick with diligent preventive measures as well as take urgent step to receive treatment when we fall ill to typhoid, typhoid can be defeated.

    As I mentioned last week under the general discussion on food and water poisoning, typhoid is very common. Perhaps second only to malaria illness that most doctors in our environment will consider when an individual presents with fever especially if such fever is associated with abdominal/tummy pain/ache and loose or soft frequent stools (poo).  Therefore, typhoid illness is very common and equally as deadly.Typhoid affects about 21million people and kills about 200,000 people yearly in the world (malaria kills about 600,000 by comparison). Without speed and effective treatment, about 12 percent-30 per cent of the people affected by typhoid will die (compare 50-70per cent death recorded under Ebola). Even if a person is treated, about five per cent of the afflicted will continue to serve as a carrier of the disease.

    What causes typhoid? Typhoid disease is caused by a bacterium called salmonella typhi. Equally lethal is the sister of the salmonella typhi called salmonella paratyphi. Except for academic purposes, in practical terms, the progression of the illness caused by either form of the salmonella is immaterial. The clinical symptoms and treatment are similar. When our food and water are contaminated by feaces/stool (poo), typhoid could result.

    For ease of understanding and for the sake of our discussion, let us therefore refer to the illness as “typhoid” and nothing as “paratyhi”

    What are the symptoms and signs of typhoid?  The symptoms may not necessarily follow in any particular order as we respond differently to different conditions when we are challenged. Also, children are particularly vulnerable. They may not be able to accurately describe what they are feeling. As a result, the illness of typhoid may become more severe in children and could kill so easily because of this fact.

    Therefore, the fact that someone who had typhoid failed to have fever is not to say that the loose stools or bowel movement which may be the only symptom alone may not be due to typhoid. Any change in a person’s health especially as pertaining to food, bowel and appetite must therefore be thoroughly investigated.

    With these caveats in mind, let us now deal with clinical features of typhoid.

    The most frequent and important symptoms and signs are changes in the bowel functions which may be associated with general signs of infection. Like any other infection, typhoid has its own incubation period. Incubation period is the time between when the germ lands in the human body and the first time when the victim starts to experience illness. The bowel changes may be nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal (tummy) discomfort, vomiting, loose stools, stooling that seems to relieve the abdominal pain but returns as soon as new food reaches the bowel. The victim, loses energy and thus get tired stemming from often frequent loose soft stools, loss of appetite and vomiting. Confusion and headache could also set in.

    Fever could be extremely high: as high as 39-40ºCelcius.  If untreated, complications may start to set in. Such complications may be perforation of parts of the bowel with possible bleeding internally.

    If the earlier symptoms do not kill the person, the latter complications may become fatal. Within a matter of three weeks from onset of illness, the person may be dead.

    Diagnosis: The illness needs confirmation via blood, urine or stool samples. But delay for confirmation should not be a barrier to starting treatment. The use of and demand for “Widal” test is not confirmatory and is often not the best indicator of the illness. In my practice, I will collect samples for relevant tests and then start the treatment immediately.

    Prevention: You can do a lot to prevent typhoid illness. Dispose of stools/feaces(poo) adequately. When you visit the toilet, ensure you wash your hands after. As a rule of thumb, avoid if possible, from eating outside your home. Food vendors/sellers outside the home are often dispensers of typhoid.  Avoid eating the food whose origin and cook you do not know of. A key source of spread of typhoid is food sellers or vendors. Food outlet owners need to regularly screen their staff for typhoid and other infections. If you are in doubt of the food and water, cook or re-heat the water or food until either is steaming hot before eating.  Drink only well sourced or bottled water.

    Also importantly, there are vaccines that can provide partial immunity against typhoid and this immunity could last two years. So, vulnerable persons, children and travelers should consider receiving this vaccination.   However if illness starts, ensure you ask for medical help immediately.

  • Food and water poisoning: How to tame the widespread killers

    About few years ago, I had stopped over in one of the fast food chains in Lagos to eat. I had only eaten a meat pie and some gizzards. I was certain I did not consume anything else until the following day when I started vomiting with frequent bowel movements and severe abdominal pain.

    It took a great medical effort to bring my health into normality. I had a repeat of the same experience within the last 36 months when I bought a piece of roast plantain on the roadside.

    A female friend of mine who had just returned from the United Kingdom (UK) three weeks ago had bought some foods from a popular fast-food chain also, only to end up in our hospital facility few days after with severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, reduced appetite, generalised weakness and fever.

    The above is a tip of the iceberg of the experience of Nigerians when it comes to food poisoning. Like malaria, food poisoning is as common, affecting both men and women, children and adult alike. Depending on the lifestyles of the individual, class of the victim may not really be of any barrier against food poisoning. I have come across professionals, bank directors, company CEOs, business owners, politicians and so forth who had suffered from various forms of food poisoning.

    In the following series, I will be writing on causes of food and water poisoning focusing on the common agents such as salmonella typhi that is commonly known as Typhoid disease E.coli and other bacterial contamination of our food and drinks. Cholera is still a menace in Nigeria, breaking out occasionally in different parts of the country. Viruses and chemicals also cause food and water diseases that afflict us severely. We will also be dealing with treatment and preventions of these illnesses. For now, let us take a closer look at origin of food and water poisoning.

     

    Causes of food and water poisoning

    I will rely on World Health Organsation (WHO) for guidance on this. Credit to WHO too.

    As I mentioned earlier, food and water poisoning may be caused by various agents.

     

    Bacteria

    Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli are among the most common foodborne pathogens that affect millions of people annually – sometimes with severe and fatal outcomes. Symptoms are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Examples of foods involved in outbreaks of salmonellosis are eggs, poultry and other products of animal origin.  Salmonellosis are not often reported or experienced in our environment unlike diseases of typhoid.

    Because of its great importance in our environment and the damage it causes us, I will discuss Salmonella typhi and paratyhi (typhoid diseases) separately next week.

    Foodborne cases with Campylobacter are mainly caused by raw milk, raw or undercooked poultry and drinking water. Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E.coli) are associated with unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat and fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Listeria infection leads to unplanned abortions in pregnant women or death of newborn babies. Although disease occurrence is relatively low, listeria’s severe and sometimes fatal health consequences, particularly among infants, children and the elderly, count them among the most serious food borne infections. Listeria is found in unpasteurised dairy products and various ready-to-eat foods and can grow at refrigeration temperatures.

    Vibrio cholerae infects people through contaminated water or food. Again, due to the importance of cholera in our environment, I will devote a separate article in this series on Cholera.

    Meanwhile, regarding viruses, the following are the major causes of food and water poisoning.  Norovirus infections are characterized by nausea, explosive vomiting, watery diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Hepatitis A virus can cause long-lasting liver disease and spreads typically through raw or undercooked seafood or contaminated raw produce. Infected food handlers are often the source of food contamination. We will examine issue of hepatitis A further in the series.

     

    Parasites

    Some parasites, such as fish-borne trematodes or worms, are only transmitted through food. Others, for example tapeworms like Echinococcus spp, or Taenia solium, may infect people through food or direct contact with animals. Other parasites, such as Ascaris, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica or Giardia (common in our environment), enter the food chain via water or soil and can contaminate fresh produce.

     

    Chemicals

    Of most concern for health are naturally occurring toxins and environmental pollutants.  Naturally occurring toxins include mycotoxins, marine biotoxins, cyanogenic glycosides and toxins occurring in poisonous mushrooms. Staple foods like corn or cereals can contain high levels of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin, produced by mould on grain. A long-term exposure can affect the immune system and normal development, or cause cancer. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are compounds that accumulate in the environment and human body. Known examples are dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are unwanted by-products of industrial processes and waste incineration. They are found worldwide in the environment and accumulate in animal food chains. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury cause neurological and kidney damage. Contamination by heavy metal in food occurs mainly through pollution of air, water and soil.

    From next weeks, we shall discuss in detail, illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A and D.

    Finally, I shall touch on chemicals that poison us in our food and drinks.

  • ‘Ambode working to give Lagosians water’

    ‘Ambode working to give Lagosians water’

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is working to give Lagosians potable water by supporting water projects, the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, Mr. Muminu Badmus, has said.

    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting on network extension of water distribution to Ogudu Ori-Oke in Kosofe Local Government, said residents of the community would have access to potable water on completion of the project.

    He said: “I thank our amiable and hardworking Governor Ambode for assisting Lagos Water Corporation to provide drinkable water for Lagosians. He has fulfilled the promise he made to Ogudu Ori-Oke residents a few months ago through the commencement of this project.

    “Today we are holding a truly significant forum, because water is life and nobody survives without it. This is why Lagos State government places high premium on the interest of the people and believes that water is key for the survival of residents. Every household must have access to potable water. This is why the government is committed to ensuring that this community is provided with uninterrupted water supply through this network extension that will be supplied from Adiyan Waterworks of 70MGD. The reticulation will cover Ogudu Ori-Oke, boost pressure to parts of Alapere and other neighbouring communities and will later be expanded to accommodate more households.

    “The project is part of government’s efforts to strengthen water supply network, increase operational efficiency and water flow capacity to meet the demand for water and contribute to development. It is a demonstration of government’s appreciation of the cooperation and support residents of this community have given to the Governor Ambode administration. It is our hope that you will continue to cooperate with the government in its desire to transform Lagos.

    “This project is being undertaken by Salini Nigeria Ltd. The contractor is undertaking 70MGD Adiyan Phase II. It has been our good partner by executing our projects in consonance with the specifications and standards. When the reticulation is completed, the connected properties will be metered to assist us in ensuring efficiency and reliability of our water networks and reducing wastages.”

    The Managing Director of Salini Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Paolo Capelala, said: “We will support Lagos State Water Corporation to provide potable water for Lagosians.”

  • Lagos targets 2m water passengers daily

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday opened three newly acquired executive boats, with a plan to divert at least two million passengers on the waterways daily.

    This, he said, will reduce traffic on the road.

    Ambode pledged to explore the tourism and economic potentials of the waterways.

    Speaking at the unveiling of the boats held at Caverton Jetty in Civic Centre area of Victoria Island, the governor said he was committed to the implementation of the integrated transport management system designed to scale up water, rail and land transportation.

    He said the boats and four Jet Skis recently acquired by the government was to ensure safety and fight crime on the waterways, while in coming months, the state would take delivery of additional seven commercial ferries.

    He said: “This is a significant day for Lagos State as we commission three boats belonging to the Lagos State Government. We discovered that sometimes, we do not have the ability for our officials to go on the waterways to address issues relating to people and citizens that live alongside the waterways.

    “As you aware, 25 per cent of Lagos is water and it is important that we put in the right initiatives that can actually make activities on our waterways to thrive and the also people living along the waterways to bring them into proper perspective.

    “Sometimes when dignitaries come from other States or countries, they are not able to see the true side of Lagos from waterways perspective and that is one of the reasons we decided to procure the boats to promote tourism in the state so that people can see the great potentials of Lagos State.”

    Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development Adebowale Akinsanya said about 30 commercial routes on the waterways have been identified for dredging and channelisation, while 10 jetties spread across the state were being constructed.

    The ministry, he said, was working with the Justice ministry to enforce compliance with safety standards and checkmate any illegal activity by operators.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager Tiamiyu Adeshina said the Jet Skis would be deployed to aid rescue operation in case of emergency, and helps to fight crime.

    “Each of the Jet Skis has the capacity to carry two divers and the idea behind this is that when an incident occurred on the water, there is a Jet Ski that will move divers fast to the incident scene while the rescue boats are coming behind and when they get there, divers are dropping into the waters and as soon as they rescue people, we put them into the rescue boat and take them to hospital,” Adeshina said.

    Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Managing Director Damilola Emmanuel, said the commissioning was the beginning of sustainable development for the waterways, adding that apart from efforts by the agency to enforce safety standards, the government has concluded plans to license 10 new operators who would provide better ferries.

  • Emergency Preparedness: Water

    We have discussed air as an essential element for sustaining human life and maintaining supply of air through both breathing and blood circulation as an aspect of emergency response.

    The next element we consider is water. Two thirds of the surface of the earth is covered with water and living things generally have a high percentage of water in their composition. Water is certainly important for life on earth.

    How much do we need water? A story from Akwa Ibom in Nigeria gives us the answer (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/247941-feature-how-potable-water-is-changing-lives-at-a-rural-nigeria-community.html). Access to water improves living, sanitation, and hygiene.

    “How potable water is changing lives at a rural Nigeria community” is a story written by Nike Adebowale and published on November 1st 2017.  It is a story that needs to be repeated in all rural areas in Africa a.s.a.p.

    It is a story that should be repeated every square kilo meter of rural Africa and it is a miracle that is not too difficult for any Government or any person of means who has social concern, even the size of a mustard seed. The following lines from this story tells us what a difference we can make in people’s lives by tackling the issue of water supply.

    “Gift Bassey, a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl, said, “I no longer have to wake up at 5 a.m. to fetch water from the stream because God has blessed us with a borehole.” Well, God did; through the European Union, EU, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.”

    “Nsit Atai is one of many local governments in Akwa Ibom State that lack pipe-borne or any other source of potable water supply. This is despite the state being one of the richest in Nigeria, earning more from the Federation Account monthly than almost all other 36 states in Nigeria.”

    “Like Nsit Atai, many parts of Nigeria do not have access to potable water, with rural dwellers suffering the most. Many walk several kilometres in search of water while others depend on polluted water from ponds, stream, rainwater and floods for domestic use.”

    “Joy Usoh, a 15-year-old girl, described the borehole as a great privilege to the community. She said it has saved her a lot of stress.”

    “Uwemedimo Davis, the deputy village head of Onong Uwana in Nsit Atai, said the provision of a borehole for the community has reduced deaths and illnesses among children. “Before this water project came, we had many cases of diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera among other diseases. But now, we don’t even record any serious illnesses anymore. Our children are very healthy and happy,” he said.”

    Water – clean water, safe water – is very important for preserving and saving lives.  Whether we are talking of an underdeveloped rural area or an ultramodern metropolis that has been struck by disaster and water supplies have been cut off or contaminated, we must keep remembering that water is linked to life, sanitation and hygiene.

    Thirst is a compelling appetite. When a person is dehydrated and thirsty, he or she is compelled to drink what is available. Children, especially, fall for this appetite and in environments where there is poor water, children die from diseases.

    Adebowale explains that “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a programme organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Ministry of Information.”

    The acronym WASH should not be forgotten or undermined.  Without safe water, we cannot maintain good sanitation for long. Without safe water, we cannot maintain good hygiene for long.  Without safe water, diseases break out.

    In a time of emergency, enlightened people should make it a priority to arrange for safe water for everyone, in order to promote sanitation and hygiene (especially in the midst of despondence or display of hopelessness), and to prevent or limit the outbreak of disease.

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis. For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635.

  • Minister seeks collaboration on on water, sanitation

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has called for collaboration with other ministries to achieve goal 6 of the sustainable development goals (SDGS).

    The Minister made the appeal at an Inter-ministerial dialogue on sanitation with key ministers in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The SDGs goal six is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2025 -2030.

    The minister said collaborative efforts with other ministries was needed to overcome the hurdles goal six presents.

    He said when the ministry met with other ministers in February they agreed to scale up funding of the water and sanitation sector.

    Adamu said: “The other resolutions included the need to inject more funding in the sanitation and hygiene sub-sector.

    “The SDGs has presented many hurdles that will require collaborative efforts in overcoming them. It is in this regards that we seek a robust collaborative efforts towards achieving this goal.

    “I can assure you that the Buhari’s administration is committed to the improvement of the WASH sector and this is evident in the budgetary allocation and releases to the ministry.

    He said the government was collaborating with development partners to achieve the goal 6 on SDGs.

  • Lagos revokes NBC, NSE water treatment licenses

    Lagos revokes NBC, NSE water treatment licenses

    The Lagos State government has revoked the licenses of water and wastewater treatment plants of Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, Agidingbi, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), WEMA Bank Plc, Awolowo Way, Ikoyi and Ocean Parade Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

    The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, made this known during an endorsement to some of the service providers.

    Abdullahi said the licenses were revoked following the non-compliance with the state water law, nothing that the rate at which untreated wastewater was being discharged into the drains and water bodies in the state must be brought under control.

    He said: “A situation where service providers will refuse to comply with regulations and continually operate boreholes illegally without boreholes permits, abstract water without relevant licenses and discharge untreated wastewater without certified wastewater facilities, would no longer be tolerated.