Abuja -An environmental activist, Priscilla Achakpa, Thursday, in Abuja urged the Federal Government to increase funding for sanitation in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of environmental sustainability by 2015.

NAN recalls that the United Nations Millennium Declaration was adopted in September 2000 to target and meet up with eight crucial goals (MDGs) by 2015.

They include, ensuring environmental sustainability, eradicating poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

Others are reduction of infant mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and developing global partnership for development.

Achakpa, coordinator of Women Environmental Programmes, a non-governmental organisation, said paucity of funds was a major setback in the struggle to provide improved sanitary life across the country.

She also condemned government’s lack of political will in the implementation of projects and environmental laws.

“The issue of sanitation is greatly neglected by the government. The policies are there but they are not enforced and then there is the lack of political will by the government itself and the lack of funding.

 “Not much is being (done) when they make their budgets; you look at the budget lines and there’s basically nothing on funding for sanitation.

 “And unless there is that political will of government to start making budgetary allocation for sanitation, we will still have a long way to go.’’

Achakpa said the lack of political will stalled efforts at sanitation projects in the public sector and discouraged public/private partnerships.