NAN-AE-9
Water
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Aug. 15, 2017 (NAN) Stakeholders in the water resources sector have called on the three tiers of government to create and execute good policies and programmes to improve the access of all Nigerians to water.
A statement by Mrs Margaret Umoh, the Press Officer, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, in Abuja on Tuesday said that this was the consensus of opinions at the Technical Session of the National Council on Water Resources in Akure.
The statement quoted the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Musa Ibrahim, as saying that the meeting would provide robust policies and strategies for effective and sustainable management of the water resources sector.
Ibrahim noted that in spite of the numerous challenges facing the sector, a lot of opportunities still existed in the sector.
He, therefore, called for pragmatic proposals from the participants in addressing these challenges.
“I, therefore, call for your vigorous participation, contribution, teamwork and support in the task of generating memoranda that would guide the policy direction for the improvement of our water sector for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
Ibrahim said that the water supply and sanitation sub-sector of the economy could only be strengthened by improving the policy environment and trying to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the sub-sector.
In his remark, Mr Folayemi Joshua, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Special Duties, said that the cost of funding the water infrastructure was enormous.
He, therefore, called for a synergy between the federal and state governments in finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
Joshua, who thanked the Federal Government for choosing the state as the venue of the meeting, called for the resuscitation of the Owena Coffer Dam, Awara Water Supply Scheme and Agbure Water Supply Scheme.
“We really count on your support and Ondo State will leave no stone unturned to partner with you in enhancing potable water supply to the people of the state,” he said.
The National Council on Water Resources is the apex policymaking body for the water resources sector and it meets at least once in a year to formulate policies, strategies and management principles for the sector.
Members of the council include the Minister of Water Resources and the Commissioners for Water Resources in the 36 states as well as the officer-in-charge of water resources in the Federal Capital Territory.
Others are the Managing Directors of Water Boards and River Basin Development Authorities, the General Managers/Managing Directors of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agencies, Water Regulatory Commissions, as well as relevant stakeholders and development partners. (NAN)
TAK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe