Experts have called on the Federal Government to revisit the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to ensure that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues are given a prime place in the agenda.

They spoke at the Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue organsed by Society For Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) in Abuja, saying it has become the major outstanding challenge to increase the resilience of people and communities to future shocks.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said the triple crises (climate, health and economy recovery) are already with us, adding,the platform would ensure WASH services are prioritised across the country.

Adamu, who described the climate challenge as the biggest health threat facing humanity, stressed that it has affected the social and environmental determinants of health such as clean air, safe drinking water, food and shelter.

The minister further explained, “this is in view of Nigeria’s stride towards eliminating open defecation and its attendant health and economic implications, through implementation of a National Campaign to end the practices by 2025.

Also, the National Coordinator of NEWSAN, Mr. Attah Benson, said the workshop is meant to accelerate the process of recovering all the lost opportunities within the last two years, while using water, sanitation and hygiene to checkmate climate change and its impacts.

In a presentation, Williams Ngwakwe called for human rights dimensions of water and sanitation to highlight the impacts of climate change on individuals and communities, thereby putting a human face to a problem that might otherwise seem distant.

He stated, “Climate action can also create opportunities to rethink how governments and partners can increase access to more sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services in all the states of the federation.”