The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Muhammed, on Wednesday restated the Federal Government’s commitment to increase access to potable water for all Nigerians.

Muhammed gave this assurance at a Panel Discussion on Women, Water and Work, organised by the Media Information Narrative Development (MIND), an NGO, in Abuja.

She said the present administration has put mechanisms in place to enable more Nigerians have water, saying it is a human right.

The minister said the importance of water cannot be overemphasised, saying it was the fulcrum through which other sectors sit.

Muhammed, who said that lack of water has been known to hold women down in poverty, added that a large amount of time was spent getting water for all purposes.

She said when women and girls have access to potable water; they would also contribute their quota to nation building.

The Country Director, MIND, Ilse Lamoen-Isoun, said urban poor women were mostly abandoned, when it comes to access to water and sanitation.

She said there was the need to hold key stakeholders accountable to make policies for women work, through prioritising water supply as a key towards national development.

Lamoen-Isoun said better access to water was the most desired need for women, especially in the rural areas.

She also called for deliberate policies to make women needs to be met, adding that this would promote an all-inclusive development.

Mr Mohammed Dan-Hassan, Head, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, FCT Water Board, said community ownership was key towards scaling up access to water in rural areas.

He said the FCT Administration was passionate about increasing access to potable water for its residents.

Dr Michael Ojo, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, said not having access to potable water is a failure of service delivery, while urging all stakeholders to do more to increase access for all Nigerians.

He said there was the need to close barriers towards enabling women and girls achieve their full potential, saying they bear the brunt of the lack of water in any society.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that highlights of the event included a photo exhibition of the plight women and girls go through when they get water and its consequences. (NAN)

•Photo shows Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Muhammed.

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