Nigeria seeks ECOWAS unity to enhance regional water supply

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has called on member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to unite in their efforts to improve water supply in the region. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, made the call at the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Ministerial […]

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has called on member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to unite in their efforts to improve water supply in the region.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, made the call at the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa in Abuja.

Utsev said West Africa was blessed with abundance of water resources and commended the Water Resources Management Centre (WRMC) for choosing Nigeria to host the meeting.

He said that if properly harnessed and coordinated, WRMC would serve as a cornerstone for development; impacting positively on health, education, tourism, food security and energy.

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He further said, “However, lack of proper coordination will lead to underdevelopment and conflicts among countries because activities of one country at the upstream could constitute danger to other countries downstream.

“Permit me at this juncture to emphasise on the need for unity among member states in the West African sub-region.’’

Earlier, Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, represented by Mr Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for hosting the event.