Federal government has reiterated its commitment to transboundary water management for the Niger Basin region’s benefit.
The minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, pledged yesterday at a regional workshop to validate a mission’s results for a pilot demonstration project held in Abuja.
Represented by the ministry’s director of water resources planning and technical support services, Mr Adeyinka Adenopo, the minister emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in managing the Mount Mandara Plateau and Sena Oura/Bouba Ndjida (BSB) ecosystems, which are shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad.
He noted the significance of preserving the Mount Mandara Plateau and Sena Oura/Bouba Ndjida ecosystems and the vital role of transboundary cooperation in achieving sustainable management.
He thanked the Global Environment Facility, UN Environment Programme, UN Development Programme and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) for their ongoing support in enhancing regional water governance.
The minister thanked the Global Environment Facility, UN Environment Programme, UN Development Programme and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) for their ongoing support in enhancing regional water governance.
Earlier, NBA executive secretary Mr Abderahim Bireme, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for hosting the workshop and acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders in organising the event.
The regional project coordinator of NB-ITTAS, Mr Allomasso Tchokponhoué, who represented the executive secretary, stressed the project’s importance in supporting sustainable management and governance of the Mount Mandara Plateau ecosystems.
He underscored the NBA’s role in promoting international and cross-border cooperation for natural resource management and poverty reduction while outlining the project’s goals to enhance knowledge-based management, governance, and conservation of the Niger Basin’s resources and aquifer systems.