see, the work of a King/Eze/Chief or flag bearer. oba or boss, culled and read, Of what use is a government that cannot provide basic services for the citizens? Business Sunday, November 2, 2014 Most densely inhabited country in Africa with a population of 162 million people and growing rapidly. As the population increases, remote communities are further cut off and urban facilities become overstretched. Recent global statistics, he stated, revealed that 63.2 million people in Nigeria dont have access to safe water. Similarly, over 97,000 children die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. The pertinent question is, how does government implement a uniform drinking water policy in a society where majority of the population depend on contaminated rainwater, pond water, and water from streams/rivers, for domestic use? But because water infrastructures are capital intensive, many of the poor communities do not have the resources to construct durable infrastructure, thus making water availability to the localities unreliable. Intervention Meanwhile, the Alaafin has established a non-governmental organisation known as Oba Adeyemi/Skimeh Foundation. The foundation, comprising of professionals, is to do an inventory of communities, especially rural areas in dire need of infrastructures and human development. The organization is wholly funded by the monarch. The foundations first assignment was the borehole projects which were recently commissioned. Commissioning the boreholes located at Ilora, Araromi, Akeetan Titun and Molaba respectfully at a colourful ceremony, Adeyemi said that in some communities across the country, waste-water and human waste are discharged into local rivers and streams and the teeming impoverished citizens depend on these sources for domestic use because they lack the funds to build waste-water treatment plants and modern water distribution infrastructures. He said under this condition only those with financial wherewithal could afford to buy water daily from private water vendors that haul water in rusty tanks that contaminate the water. History shows that water resources development and basic water service has generally been handled by governments. And because a certain amount of water is needed for drinking and domestic use, water is considered a basic need and as a human right. Thus, governments are required to make basic water available to the citizens; also investment in water development requires large financial resources, which are often beyond the reach of private individuals and poor communities. As the nations population grows (currently, over 140 million) demand for water and other resources will also increase. What is the Federal Government doing to meet the challenges? Of what use is a government that cannot provide basic services to the citizens?, the monarch said. To expand access to clean water supply, the paramount ruler advised both the state and federal governments to invest copiously on rural and urban water scheme. This, Alaafin asserted, should be part of the NEEDS and poverty alleviation programmes. While eulogizing Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his visionary administration and unprecedented devotion to the well-being of the people of the state, Adeyemi pledged to use his resources to complement the administrations transformation agenda, especially on rural development.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:45:45 +0000
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