ABUJA (Water Resources Ministry Report) – The Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe has recently received in her office, Israeli investors led by the former Nigerian Minister of Information, Jerry Gana.
This was contained in a monthly report on the review of activities for May 2014 published by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry. The report said that at the occasion, the Minister observed that though the Federal Government has done much in the provision of funds for the completion of water projects, the Ministry intends to partner with private investors towards completing those projects that have not been completed.
She assured the investors of Government’s willingness to partner with countries that are ready to improve on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
The report further revealed that the Water Resources Minister warned Managing Directors and Executive Directors of River Basin Development Authorities against breach of protocols. Included in the activities of the Ministry for the month of May 2014 was a retreat organised for Boards and Management of the River Basin Development Authorities in Abuja.
The Ministry as stated in the report for the month advocated for States’ commitment to the Urban Water Sector Reform Programme as well as organised a workshop on ‘Strengthening the Implementation of the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project’ in partnership with the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD). The workshop was targeted at eight benefiting States of the World Bank and the AFD Project, comprising: Kaduna, Ogun, Enugu, Lagos, Cross River, Bauchi, Ekiti and River States.
According to the monthly activities review report for May, 2014, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson applauded the efforts of the Nigerian water sector towards making water available for multipurpose uses, pledging more support. The report informed that the Minister of Water Resources had an audience with GIBB Nigeria Consulting Company led by the former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye where she expressed the readiness of Government to collaborate with investors interested in the water sector on the completion of water projects, especially the construction of the Datsin-hausa Dam in Adamawa State.
“The Minister said that the construction of the dam would prevent the re-occurrence of the 2012 flooding as a result of the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. She also explained that with the Dam constructed, the water which may be released from the Lagdo Dam in the future would be contained,” the report said.
Other activities itemised in the month of May 2014 review include: condemnation of the Jos bomb blast; visit to the Deputy Governor of Plateau State and the victims of the Jos bomb blast in the Specialist Hospital and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); staging of a workshop on the Inception / Sensitization for Development of a National Irrigation Policy and Strategy towards self-sufficiency in food production and assurance of food security in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of Nigeria (FAO).
During the period under review, Sarah Reng Ochekpe participated at the 5th African Water Week organized by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) in conjunction with the African Union and other stakeholders in Dakar, Senegal. As part of the discussions in the meeting, she advocated for the autonomy of water and sanitation in the post-MDG Agenda, emphasising that the exhibition of water facilities at the event was an opportunity for the participating counties to share knowledge, information and ideas about the best practices in the management of water facilities.
Also at the 9th General Assembly Meeting of AMCOW held in Dakar, Senegal in the same month, Nigeria handed the headship of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) to the Republic of Senegal following the successful completion of her tenure on May 31, 2014. In her valedictory statement during the event, the Minister of Water Resources called on the Government of Senegal to support the new AMCOW President to take AMCOW to greater heights in the next two years.
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