(Quick News Africa)- The United States government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), on Thursday in Kaduna launched a water and sanitation initiative, which it said will help improve the health and hygiene of populations in Kaduna and Bauchi States.  Â
The two-year, “Water and Sanitation Coordination Project (WCP)” worth $2.5 million comes after both states have received substantial investments for water and sanitation infrastructure from the World Bank and African Development Bank in recent times.
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“The WCP will provide governance support for these new infrastructure facilities and also generate data critical to develop enhanced Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming and build a community of practice for WASH professionals throughout Nigeria,” said the US government in a statement issued Thursday by its embassy in Abuja.
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The statement further stated that USAID is working with the Kaduna and Bauchi state water boards to maintain a path toward financial and commercial viability of water projects being planned for the two states.Â
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It also noted that by strengthening their capacity to make solid investment decisions, improving billing and collections, and being responsive to the concerns of their customers, more people and businesses will ultimately have access to water and sanitation services.Â
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Speaking on behalf of the two benefiting states, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, the governor of Bauchi State, pledged the commitment and political will of the people and states of Kaduna and Bauchi in ensuring the success of the project.Â
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“There is no gainsaying the fact that support from USAID is very essential in building the capacity and good governance of key institutions of Bauchi and Kaduna states,” he said.
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 “Infrastructure investments are essential, but not sufficient to extend water and sanitation services to even more residents,” said Stephen Haykin, USAID Nigeria mission director. According to him, “this is where [our] new project lends support.”
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The UN says about 57 million people lack access to safe drinking water in Nigeria, and that each year, waterborne illnesses kill around 1 million children under the age of five in the country.
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The new activity builds upon the USAID Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa activity currently taking place in Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Rivers states.Â
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Improving WASH services is a component of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in April between USAID and the Kaduna State government in support of economic growth.Â
