Food security, water challenges get attention at water council meeting

The 23rd regular meeting of the National Council On Water Resources was recently concluded in Abuja with about 200 participants taking a look at how water resources could be effectively harnessed to guarantee food security for Nigerians as well as access to water supply and sanitation for sustainable development. The meeting was chaired by the […]

The 23rd regular meeting of the National Council On Water Resources was recently concluded in Abuja with about 200 participants taking a look at how water resources could be effectively harnessed to guarantee food security for Nigerians as well as access to water supply and sanitation for sustainable development.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, who is also the chairman of the council.
Addressing the participants, the minister noted that the absence of officially approved irrigation policy and strategy, alongside relevant laws to underpin the policy has been one of the major challenges limiting progress in development of the irrigation sub-sector. He, however, said a draft National Irrigation and Drainage Policy and Strategy has now been finalised.
He said his ministry was collaborating with that of agriculture in the development and utilisation of water resources infrastructure for commercial agriculture development.
To this end, he told the participants that about 6,000ha of land had been identified nationwide to be fully equipped with irrigation infrastructure for commercial farming before the end of the year.
On water, the minister said the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari placed high premium on the provision of water and sanitation to Nigerians on an affordable and sustainable manner and that the ministry would work hard to achieve that.
To that end, he said the ministry has commenced different programmes including the Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation programme in 42 communities in six states with the assistance of the World Bank and the European Commission and the National Water Supply Reform Programme among others.
The minister noted that 70 percent of tropical ailments were water related, hence the ministry has made concerted efforts to address the incidence. He said the contributions of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to health and socio-economic development could not be over-emphasised.
The permanent secretary, in the ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, said the federal government was committed in meeting with national aspiration by providing safe water and improved sanitation for all Nigerians in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and African Union Vision 2025.
The participants, who included state water resources commissioners, state water agencies, the representatives of the European Union, UNICEF, UNESCO, JICA and Water Aid, brainstormed extensively during the 5-day meeting with the theme, ‘Refocusing Water and Sanitation for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals.’ 
At the end of the meeting, they agreed among other things, that a request be made to the National Assembly to review the National Inland Waterways Authority Act 2004.
“That the federal government be urged to approve the Federal Ministry of Water Resources’ accesses intervention funds for systematic development of strategic dams along Benue and Niger river system to control floods.
“That the ministry of water funds the implementation of the 3rd phase of the Girls and Women In Nigeria (G-WIN) project in Jigawa, Ondo, Benue, Enugu and Cross River states,’’ a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read in part.