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If You Can’t Provide Water, Sanitation, Don’t Vie For 2023 Election`- CERI

Published

4 years ago

December 18, 2021

By Mustapha Suleiman

A non-Governmental Organisation, Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI), has enjoined politicians intending to contest at the forthcoming 2023 general elections at all levels to either prioritise water and sanitation or loss popular support.

This was stated by CERI Executive Director Mr Benson Attah in Abuja. He said that CERI is ensuring that communities across the country are well developed and well taken care of by advocating for various governments and stakeholders to ensure that water and sanitation are regraded and prioritised to the citizens.

He stressed that water and sanitation is regarded as human rights which must be prioritised by the government at all levels. “Community Emergency Response Initiative(CERI) also happened to be a member of End Water Poverty EWP) which is an international platform, comprising different civil society organisations that are also advocating for various governments and stakeholders to ensure that water and sanitation are regraded or prioritised to the citizens and also regarded as their human rights. And to ensure that, they create awareness among the citizens to know that water and sanitation is their right as citizens and that they don’t need to beg for it.

’’Attah said that any government providing health and sanitation is not doing the people any favour as he is only carrying out the duties expected of the office he is occupying.

He said, “Anybody providing water for any community and expected him to be applauded is just wasting his time or misleading the people. Because, in the first place, it is the right of the people as citizens to have access to good and safe water and sanitation wherever they are.’’ CERI Executive Director noted that water and sanitation are parts of human rights having the same status as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, saying that government at all levels should ensure that they make water accessible to the citizens without minding whoever they are and wherever they live without any discrimination.

Attah further warned politicians not to use water provision as a mere political campaign slogan, saying “So, it should not be used6 as a campaign strategy because anybody that is doing that now will only be misleading and deceiving the citizens because they don’t know that it is their right to be provided with access to safe water and sanitation.’’

He said that water and sanitation provisions should not be used as campaign promises by politicians, they should know that it’s something they have the duty to provide for the citizens as long as they occupy such political offices.

“ Once you decide to run for an office, you should be prepared to do the needful and if you are not ready to provide the water and sanitation which is essential service to the growth, development and wellbeing of the people while in that office then leave the office for those who are ready and know what it means to govern people or don’t vie for it in the first place. And don’t expect you are doing the people any favour, they don’t have to beg for water and sanitation which is their basic fundamental human rights.

“So, whoever is ready to do the right thing, water and sanitation should top his agenda and to be implemented in every community in a robust way because that is the source of most of the common ailments.

“We are not saying that government should provide sanitation facilities for individual homes because sanitation at home is a private and personal thing but the government should provide toilet facilities in all public institutions and places such as schools, parks, markets places, transit stations and also provide the means for the appropriate institutions to carry out community mobilisation, sensitisation and awareness creation as well as monitor community compliance and behaviour change. And, even if people have to pay for it, it must be available, accessible and reliable. That’s the issue of water and sanitation campaign now and that is the message we are carrying to communities across the country.’’

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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