The European Union (EU), under phase III of its Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme, has set aside €40 million to boost water supply in three states in Nigeria. These states are Ekiti, Adamawa and Plateau.

According to an EU official, Alaba Ogunsajo, the three states and their local governments contributed to about €4 million in the same framework. Speaking on the development, the Ekiti state commissioner for Public Utilities, Deji Adesua, said that in line with EU’s objective to boost access to drinking water in the country, the government of Ekiti has approved a new water and sanitation policy.

It should be highlighted that recently, the Osun State government has secured a $65 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank to improve water supply and sanitation in the state. According to the State’s governor, Rauf Aregbesola, the funds will be used among others to build a treatment plan and lay a transmission line of 17 km from Kajola to Ilesa.

EU’s Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme aims to boost populations’ access to drinking water in 14 States across Nigeria. Under the programme, the beneficiaries, which are the States, will provide 30% of financing needed to ensure its effective implementation while the EU will provide remaining 70%.

Anita Fatunji