By Princess Don, Uyo.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, provided an update on the Ministry’s efforts to tackle Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation, and irrigation challenges during the 31st Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation in Uyo on Thursday.
In his keynote address, Minister Utsev maintained that the completion of over 40 water supply projects across both urban and rural areas, funded under the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PEWASH) and Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) programs. These initiatives, he noted, have significantly improved access to clean water for millions of Nigerians.
On sanitation, the Minister shared that 142 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have now been certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF) under the Clean Nigeria Campaign.
He also revealed plans for new National WASH policies that will align Nigeria’s water and sanitation efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming for long-term improvements in hygiene and sanitation nationwide.
Minister Utsev also addressed the critical issue of irrigation in ensuring food security. He pointed to successful projects like the Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori irrigation schemes, emphasizing their role in boosting agricultural productivity.
He reassured stakeholders that ongoing irrigation projects would continue to support food security in Nigeria, particularly as the country faces the impacts of climate change.
The Minister further stressed the importance of attracting private sector investments to support the country’s hydropower development, citing the ongoing Gurara Phase II Hydropower Project in Niger State and upcoming projects in Benue and Nasarawa States as key examples. These initiatives are set to improve Nigeria’s energy and water sustainability.
Expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and the Akwa Ibom State Government, Minister Utsev noted that the National Council meeting’s discussions would help shape effective policies to improve Nigeria’s water security, sanitation, and agricultural productivity.
He urged all stakeholders to collaborate on solutions to address pressing issues like water scarcity, food insecurity, and climate change.
Declaring open the meeting, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno maintained that his ARISE agenda aligned with the federal government’s Renewed Hope initiative.
Governor Eno emphasized water’s importance in agriculture, particularly in irrigation, livestock production, and fisheries, which are vital to ensuring food security in the state.
Governor Eno also shared the state’s commitment of N200 million to the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) project, which seeks to boost agricultural productivity through improved water access.
He also outlined Akwa Ibom’s climate change mitigation strategies, including the creation of a Flood Mitigation Committee and environmental protection initiatives.
He called for continued collaboration between the federal government, development partners, and the private sector to address the nation’s water and food security challenges.
Governor Eno also mentioned that Akwa Ibom State had made progress toward becoming Open Defecation Free, with one local government already meeting the standard, and expressed his intent to create a dedicated WASH unit to further these efforts.
“I will meet with the Ministry of Water Resources soon to discuss how we can collaborate to ensure more local governments in the state become Open Defecation Free by the end of the year,” Governor Eno said. “We will continue working to bring the benefits of these programs to our people.”
“I would like to meet the head of a unit as quickly as possible so we can work with the Permanent Secretary on how to collaborate with the ministry to federal ministry to ensure that we resume programs that before the end of the year we’ll see many more local governments to be open defecation free and that should be done in the next two weeks. The Permanent Secretary has that mandate.
“I would like to make that meeting available so we can link up with the Federal Ministry of Water. I remember as commissioner we had the WASH team and a focal person come from the federal to work with us. So, as the Hon. Minister has raised it. It’s time we need to pursue it and we’ll be coming to you soon.
“As I promised you yesterday, we’ll be submitting a brief in the next month of the progress we have made in all of this direction. The state is to collaborate with the federal government to ensure that we bring the benefit of programs to our people and that is what we’ll continue to do.” Governor Eno concluded
