FG awards 113 water contracts, completed 40 projects – Minister

The Federal Government has awarded 113 water contracts across the country and completed 40 of those contracts in the last one year.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this in his keynote address at its 31st Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation (NCWR&S) in Uyo on Thursday.

Our Correspondent  reports that the theme of the Council meeting is “Water and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities in the Face of Daunting Climate Change.”

Utsev said the Ministry in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was leveraging on programmes at revolutionising irrigated agriculture in boosting food security to alleviate poverty in the country.

“Permit me to state that, the Ministry has continued to work towards the revitalisation and sustainability of the water supply sub-sector; providing strategic guidance for the effective delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene services across the nation.

“Some significant progress made by the Ministry since the last Council Meeting held in Feb. 2024, in Abuja are highlighted as follows.

“Water Supply: the Ministry has accomplished over 40 different projects across rural, small town and urban water supply. Other achievements include.

“Construction of 44 projects under the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PEWASH) programme.

“Completion of 45 projects under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme.

“Implementation of 64 projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Inclusive Basic Delivery System for Development and Livelihood Empowerment Improvement Project.

“Award of 113 contracts for water supply, which are currently at various stages of construction,” Utsev said.

The minister said that plans are underway to construct additional dams across the country to expand water storage capacity as measures to control flood and enhance food security through irrigation.

The minister added that irrigation plays a critical role in food security, economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.

In nis remarks, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom said the ARISE Agenda of his administration aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu.

Eno said the state government was committed to working tirelessly to ensure that citizens benefit from the initiatives and programmes outlined in the President’s bold agenda, especially those that relate to water, agriculture and environment.

The governor called on the federal government to reactivate the abandoned dams in Nkari and Ibiono Ibom in Ini and Ibiono Ibom LGAs respectively.

“These dams once envisioned to drive agricultural growth and economic prosperity, now lie dormant and abandoned, a testament to the neglect of our water resources,” Eno said.

Eno said that government has implemented several initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change including the setting up of Flood Mitigation Committee.

“We want to reiterate our administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges of water and food security in the face of climate change.

“We recognise that these challenges require a collective response and all are invited to join in this effort. Together we can build a more resilient and sustainable future for all Nigerians,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Sada Soli, said the National Assembly was ready to play its role, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in ensuring that all decisions taken at the National Council are achieved.

He said the theme was very apt considering the ever increasing awareness on the need for sustainable development of water resources for various purposes such as agriculture, industrial and domestic uses, especially with the appalling climate change that confronts the whole world.