originally published on March 23, 2016

Sixty-three million of the 170 million Nigerians lack safe water and sanitation while about 112 million people are without access to improved sanitation despite progress made by the MDG project, Oxfam Nigeria has said.
The Head of Programmes Oxfam Nigeria, Mr. Constant Tchona, said yesterday in Abuja as part of activities marking the international World Water Day that the 63 million represent about 39 percent of the population and that water and sanitation coverage rates in Nigeria remain among the lowest in the world.

He said unless there is improvement in the situation, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) six which is “Clean water and Sanitation” may not be achieved.

In a related development, data from a new testing technology by the UNICEF has shown that an estimated 1.8 billion people may be drinking water contaminated by e-coli (meaning there is faecal material in their water) even from improved sources.

In an event to mark the World Water Day yesterday, the UNICEF said the push to bring safe water to millions around the world was even more challenging due to climate change.