Nestlé Waters Nigeria has inaugurated a community water facility to provide access to safe and clean drinking water for over 1,000 villagers in the Maderegi suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Handing over the facility to the representative of the traditional ruler of Abaji, Alhaji Mahammed, the Country Business Manager of Nestlé Waters Nigeria, Mr. Jason Lambs, said effective use of water would ensure “healthy hydration.”
Lambs said, “We are committed to helping people lead healthier lives as water is surely the best way to fulfill daily hydration needs. We have pledged globally to water stewardship in an effort to adopt sustainable water practices, especially in areas where we source our goods, where our factories are located and where our suppliers and consumers live. Local communities play a very important role in achieving these objectives.”
The new facility makes it the second community water project to be donated in Nigeria by the company, which started water business in Nigeria in 2005 after Korogboji community in Agbara, Ogun State, host of the first water factory.
At the inauguration attended by the Third Secretary, Embassy of Switzerland, Lionel Rochat, and the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Abdulrahman Ajiya, the Marketing Manager, Mrs. Gloria Nwabuike, said over 800 students, 300 teachers across 140 Schools had been trained in Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Abaji in partnership with Project WET, an international NGO, to create awareness about water conservation and proper hydration.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged the organised private sector to partner with her to attain the sustainable development goals, just as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, commended Nestle for the provision of the facilities in Nigeria.
“This is one initiative that the Federal Government craves from the private sector to attain the sustainable development goals. We sincerely appreciate and recommend the Nestlé Nigeria module of Corporate Social Responsibility, if we must develop,” Jimeta said.
She added that government was working towards generating electricity from the over 375billion cubic metres water potential of the country to create jobs and ensure food security.
Jimeta, who was represented by the Director of Hydrology in the Ministry, Mr. John Ochigbo, said the vast quantity of water in the country is held in the small and large dams.
“Appreciable progress has been made to achieve set goals under the Sustainable Development Goals with access to water and sanitation for all,” she said.
She added that government had embarked on integrated approach to improve on water supply coverage, food security, productivity, risk management and employment generation.
Appealing to Nigerians to ensure effective management of water, the Jimeta said that the revised National Water Resources Master Plan had been finalised with assistance from the JICA for the use of the public.
