Nigeria To Partner With Spain On Water Infrastructure Development

The Federal Government of Nigerian has expressed its readiness to partner with the Spanish Government to develop water and irrigation infrastructures in the country. The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu disclosed this on Monday 14th of December, 2015 when he received a delegation from the Spanish Mission to Nigeria, led by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ignacio Garcia in his office.

Engr. Adamu said that the possible areas of collaboration would include: water supply, irrigation, capacity building and dam safety as well as improving the performance of the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDs). He also urged the Deputy Head of Mission to study the Nigerian National Water Resources Master Plan and come up with specific areas of interest for a fruitful, mature collaboration, adding that the National Water Resources Master Plan is the road map in exploring or harnessing the elaborate potentials in the water sector.

In his remarks at the event, the Deputy Head of Mission in the Spain Embassy, Ignacio Garcia explained that there has been a long standing relationship between Nigeria and the Spanish Governments in the oil sector. Adding, as Spain is also trying to diversify its economy, there is the need to look at the water resources potentials of the water sector in Nigeria. He added that Spanish agriculture depends largely on conserved water from their dams for all year agricultural practice through irrigation systems. According to him, Spain has the technology that can help Nigeria manage its water resources potentials. [FMWR]