EU, UNICEF join forces to implement water and sanitation projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) and United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) have entered a five-year agreement to implement water supply and sanitation projects in five states in Nigeria.

The EU and UNICEF will implement the Rural Water and Sanitation Project (RWSSP) in the rural communities of five Nigerian states: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers, for a cost of NGN5bn ($31.6m).

The RWSSP project aims to provide safe drinking water supply and sanitation services along with other basic social services for about 1.4 million residents in the Nigerian states.

The water and sanitation project is undertaken as a part of the EU funded NGN450bn ($2.8bn) Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP), which aims to provide better governance, create jobs and offer basic services to the residents of the country.

Of the total NGN5bn ($31.6m), EU will contribute NGN4bn ($25.3m), UNICEF will provide NGN12m ($76,069).

The five state governments and local government areas will provide NGN700m ($4.4m) and the benefitting rural communities will contribute NGN81m ($513,470).

The RWSSP will also help set up and empower Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agencies; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) departments in the local areas, which will be responsible for the rural water supply and sanitation projects in rural communities.

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Image: EU, UNICEF are collaborating to provide five Nigerian states with safe drinking water. Photo: Olli Niemitalo.