(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nigerian-coat-of-arms-logo-5321-300x281.png) The Federal Government has been commended for its commitment to transform the water sector as it commissions the completed Erusu/Arigidi dam in Akoko North-west of Ondo State and Ukpoke Irrigation project in Edo state.
This commendation was given by the Governors of the two States, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, when the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe paid a courtesy call on the two Governors during a working visit to the two States to commission projects under the Benin/Owena River Basin Development Authority(BORBDA).
Governor Mimiko said that the policy of the Federal Government on the provision of water supply is in tandem with the vision of the state government to ensure that water is made available for both domestic and agricultural purposes for the overall benefit of the people, adding that there was no doubt that the completion of the Erusu/Arigidi dam will further complement the efforts of the state government to develop the agricultural sector, particularly if the state was able leverage on the dam.
He described the successes recorded in the water sector in the last two years under the Jonathan's Administration's transformation agenda as highly commendable, and therefore, appealed for increased cooperation between the state and the Federal Government for functional reticulation of water from the Benin/Owena multipurpose dam for adequate supply of safe drinking water to the people of the State.
Dr. Mimiko reiterated the commitment of the State Government to provide water not only for domestic use but also to improve the agricultural development.
In Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, while receiving the Minister of water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe at the Government House, Benin lauded the commitment of the Federal Government to complete all existing projects before embarking on new ones and a development which, he said, would assist in achieving the transformation agenda of Jonathan's Administration.
He called for closer collaboration between the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the State and the Federal Government to leverage on the huge investment of the government in the State. "I want to plead with the Minister to direct the Benin/Owena River Basin Authority to work closely with the relevant line Ministries in this State such as Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Energy; as doing so would enable our farmers to take full advantage of the Federal Government's huge investment in this project you are about to commission", the Governor said.
Comrade Oshiomhole identified rural poverty as the greatest problem facing the people of his State and asserted that there was no better way of tackling this than through sustainable investment in agriculture, particularly irrigation farming.
Earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe had told the two Governors that the commissioning of the projects in their States was in fulfilment of President Goodluck Jonathan's directive to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the federal level to complete all ongoing and abandoned projects that are viable and of economic benefit to the people.
Mrs Ochekpe assured that government was committed to completing as many projects across the States as possible.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria