The Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Evelyn Mere, has urged the Nigerian government to respond to the urgent threat of climate change to avert sanitation crisis in the country.

Mere made the call in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Bauchi.

Mrs Oluseyi Abdulmalik, Communications and Media Manager, WaterAid Nigeria, signed the statement.

Mere said government must respond now to the urgent threat of climate change and recognise the vital role of climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

“Climate change has intensified both the sanitation and water crisis. No one can survive without clean water. No one can thrive if they have to struggle to find it. 

“But our changing climate is making life harder for the world’s poorest people who are already struggling to get clean water,” she said.

Mere said little is being spent on helping the most vulnerable people adapt to the impact of climate change which is putting the health and lives of millions at risk. 

She urged the government to address this urgent threat now so that future generations could stay safe and healthy.

The country director said that WaterAid is working with governments, the private sector, development banks and others,  to develop the Resilient Water accelerator.

The statement cited Mr Bernard Aryeetey, International Affairs Director for WaterAid, as saying that ”World leaders must recognise that poorer nations hit hardest by climate change cannot wait two more years as they continue to carry the burden of richer nations’ inaction.”

“Across the globe, mothers and fathers are struggling to ensure that their children have access to clean water because of the devastating impacts of floods and droughts caused by climate change.

“During the 12 days of COP26, women will miss out on 2.5 million working days globally – a figure that could be exacerbated by climate change,” he said 

He said that urgent action is necessary, adding that world leaders must see that decisions taken in Glasgow would have the greatest impact on vulnerable communities thousands of miles away.