Nigerian Government pledges $1m for Water, Sanitation Development in Africa  

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu has called on the staff of the Ministry to show commitment, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their duties aimed at moving the sector forward.  

According to the report on the review of activities for the month of November 2015 made known by the Publicity Department of the Ministry lately, the Minister said that the only way to succeed in the water sector is to work as a team towards attaining the functions of the Ministry in the overall interest of the Nigerian people. 

In her remarks at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Rabi Jimeta promised to key into the present administration’s ‘change mantra’ by working assiduously with the  Minister and the entire staff of the Ministry to achieve success. “The Federal Government  of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon  met in Nigeria over the Management of the River Benue Basin. The two countries deliberated on the MOU document on the management of the basin which is expected to be signed before the end of the year,” she iterated and intensified that the document would enhance cooperation between the two countries. 

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria,Salahiddine Abbas hinted that the MOU would harmonize all efforts of both countries in managing the River Benue Basin.  

In another development, the Nigerian Government pledged one million US dollars for Water and Sanitation Development in Africa with Nigeria playing host to the 10^th Anniversary Celebration of the African Water Facility (AWF), an initiative of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilize resources for the water and sanitation sector.  

The review on the activities for the period indicated that the AWF initiative is aimed at supporting the MDGs / SDGs  water and sanitation – related goals and the African Vision 2025. Adding, President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Minister of Water Resources during the event pledged to contribute the sum of one million US dollars to the African Water Facility (AWF) in its efforts to address water and sanitation challenges in Africa. 

In his remarks at the meeting of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) which took place in November 2015, the Vice President of the African Development Bank, Ali Abou – Sabaa said that the African Development Bank (ADB) has committed substantial resources to the African Water Facility for the development of water infrastructure in Africa. 

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) Bai Mass Taal described Nigeria as the father of African water facility, adding that the initiative of AMCOW which gave birth to the African water facility was initiated in Nigeria ten years ago.  

 ABUJA (Federal Ministry Of Water Resources Report)