Analysis released by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, indicated that the proportion of children in the world lacking sufficient accessibility of portable water was high. Nigerian children were mostly affected by inavailbily of quality water.

More than 1.42billion people including 450million children were suffering from insufficient water availability to meet their everyday needs.

Statistics showed that one third of Nigeria lack access to enough water, about 100,000 Nigerian children die annually due to water related diseases.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria , Peter Hawkins said: “we don’t need to wait for water scarcity to prevail. It is already on rampage, and the biggest victims are children.”

However, the UNICEF data revealed that 80 countries live in areas where there were extremely high water vulnerabilities.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria happened to be among one of the countries affected; where global resources, support and urgent action must be mobilized.

Data from UNICEF disclosed, over 86 percent of Nigerians lacking5 access to a safely managed drinking water source. The problem was compounded by poor drinking water quality and lack of equity access.

“Although about 70 percent of Nigerians are reported to have access to basic water services, more than half of these sources are contaminated,” it said.

Though the Nigerian Government through the Ministry of Water Resources has shown some progress in this regard, but much work needs to be done in the country to ensure that Nigerians have access to adequate and quality water and hygiene services.

“At the current rate, the country will miss the SDG targets on people’s access to water; unless there is a strong commitment and appropriate action taken by all stakeholders.”

Lolo Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News