Stakeholders and governments have been called upon to join a struggle to put a final end to water poverty among the earth's inhabitants; ahead the World Water Day, which is celebrated every March 22 all over the world. The call was made by a coalition in Nigeria including WaterAid Nigeria, Benue Non-Governmental Organisation Network, Water and Sanitation Media Network, who are billed to launch a campaign against water poverty on above date in Nigeria, in conjunction with a global move. The coalition claimed there is a global crisis in sanitation and water, with billions of people across the world living in the same kind of squalor and disease that was eradicated long ago in the developed world. Without sanitation and water there can be no sustainable development in health, education and livelihoods, locking people into a cycle of poverty and disease, they said.



In a statement by a WaterAid official, Mr. Bankole Ebisemiju, he said, "with international, national and local level calls to action, all players in the international community can be in no doubt as to the roles they can and must play to end this crisis". Internationally, the End Water Poverty Coalition is calling on Germany, hosts of the G8 this year, to explicitly recognise in the summit declaration the slow progress in extending access to sanitation and water, and recognise that sanitation and water are basic human rights and fundamental to poverty reduction. The Coalition urged Germany to ensure that the G8 summit commits to a Global Action Plan for sanitation and water to ensure services for the world's poorest people.



Mr. Jonathan Burton, WaterAid Country Representative said the "End Water Poverty campaign brings together like minded organisations across the world who wants to see action and who resolves to end the crisis that is experienced by millions of people struggling in poverty". "At this moment we are calling on Germany to use the G8 to initiate a Global Action Plan for sanitation and water to be monitored by a global task force. Our coalition members in Europe are pushing for this to happen too. This is truly an international campaign and together, with one voice it's just possible that we will bring an end to water poverty". He added that the End Water Poverty Campaign would be launched in Makurdi, Benue State with a workshop on the theme of the campaign and will have in attendance governorship candidates of the political parties in Benue State.



The debate is expected to provide a platform for the citizens to engage the politicians on their plans for sanitation and water when elected into office. This will be followed by a rally round the city of Makurdi, with brief stop-over at sites of deplorable state of water supply and sanitation conditions. End Water Poverty is an international campaign calling for sanitation and water for all. There is growing coalition of like-minded organisation from all over the world demanding immediate action to tackle this crisis. End Water Poverty is calling for one global action plan for sanitation and water monitored by one global task force, 70% of aid money for sanitation and water to be targeted at the poorest countries, and for water resources to be protected and shared equitably.