From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria to get not less than 55 percent of Economic of West African Community, (ECOWAS) regional water intervention fund.
The ECOWAS commissioner for infrastructure, Energy and digitization Sediko Douka announced this at the 5th ordinary session of the ministerial monitoring committee, MMC, meeting of permanent framework for coordination and monitoring of integrated water resources management, IWRM, in Abuja.
He explained that it is based on Nigeria’s large population and contribution to the regional water levy.
Douka who further explained that west Africa states have been committed to integrated water management leading to an action plan in 2000 and frame work in 2001 stressed the need for a new form of water Management to tackle water related problems.
The ECOWAS commissioner stated that the essence of the ministerial monitoring committee meeting is to revitalising cooperation and implementation of the regional water policies for the development of the region
The Minister of Water resources and sanitation, Professor Terlumun Utsev while declaring the meeting open stated that unity is all that is needed for the development of the water sector.
“There is a saying that “teamwork makes the dream work”, this can also be said about our sub-region. To truly see growth in the sub-region, we need to be united and work as a team especially when it comes to the management of our water resources, both surface and underground” he noted
Professor Utsev who that stressed that the subregion is blessed with great potential added that it is only through collaboration and partnership that the region can over come the present economic situation.
“The sub-region has a great amount of potential, and through working together, we can foster a region that can solve its challenges – from climate change, poverty, unemployment, inequality, and more” the Minister added.
The Minister emphasized that West Africa is blessed with abundance water resources and if properly harnessed and coordinated, will serve as a cornerstone for development.
“It will impact positively on health, education, tourism, food security and energy. However, lack of proper coordination will lead to underdevelopment and conflict among countries because activities of one country at the upstream could constitute danger to other countries downstream” Professor Utsev stated.
“Today’s gathering is aimed at considering the following key initiatives like the draft ECOWAS – WRMC Strategic Plan 2020 – 2030, the draft Directive on the Development of Water Infrastructure in West Africa, the draft guideline on the management of shared water resources in West Africa, the revival of the programme for the promotion of new trans-boundary basin organizations in West Africa and the institutional study for a reform of the PFCM and as well as the operationalization of the regional water observatory” Utsev stated.
Professor Utsev who expressed confidence with the cream of experts and well experienced technocrats in meeting, expressed optimism that far-reaching recommendations and resolutions will reposition the nation’s water sector and West Africa in general.
“Let me seize this opportunity to thank the leadership of the Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC) for selecting Nigeria to be one of the few West African Countries to benefit from the Year 2024 ECOWAS Special Project Implementation for Access To Drinking Water in Rural Areas and I appreciate our patriots for initiating the idea of bringing all West African Countries together under the umbrella of the “Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)” indeed, this platform has afforded us the opportunity of coming together to achieve our common goals and aspirations.
About fifty-four African countries ministers of water Resources participated in the 5th ordinary session of the ministerial monitoring committee, MMC, meeting of permanent framework for coordination and monitoring of integrated water resources management,
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