The Federal Government has opened talks with the Akwa Ibom State Government for strong collaboration to improve access to clean and safe water, and sanitation services for the citizens and mitigate the impact of perennial flooding in the state.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev stated this recently when he led the management of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on a visit to the Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno in Uyo.
A statement by the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Terhemen Oraduen said a robust collaboration will enable the Federal Government to execute more people-oriented projects that would add value to the lives of citizens of the state.
Minister Utsev informed the Governor that his ministry has adopted Nkari Dam as one of the priority projects to be completed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and has been captured in this year’s budget while work on the dam is 55 percent.
According to him, the dam with a storage capacity of three point five million cubic meters when completed, will boost irrigation farming, water supply, fishery, and food production.
Professor Utsev also said his ministry in partnership with the State government was developing the Itu Irrigation project which is one of the largest in the South, South aimed at developing up to two thousand hectares of land for all-year-round agriculture and flood control.
The Minister announced that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of six Reference Laboratories across the six geopolitical zones in the country to check waterborne diseases and Akwa Ibom State has been selected to benefit from the project and work would soon commence.
He also told the Governor that his ministry was implementing the World Bank Assisted Programmes in the water and sanitation sector such as Partnership For Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene PEWASH, Sustainable Urban Rural Water Supply and Hygiene Programme SURWASH, Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria SPIN with funds available.
Professor Utsev therefore called on the Governor to show more commitment by meeting its requirements to enable the state to benefit from the projects that are meant to improve the lives of his citizens.
The Minister who expressed concern that open defecation was still high in the state according to the UN-WASHCOM report, appealed to the Governor to step up more efforts through massive sensitization of citizens on the negative effects of open defecation.
He urged the Governor to construct more toilet facilities in schools and public places saying his ministry was ready to support the state to achieve open defecation-free Nigeria by the year 2030.
Professor Utsev thanked the Governor for a warm reception to the delegates at the ongoing Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation taking place in Uyo town.
Responding, the Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Eno expressed appreciation to Professor Utsev for finding his state worthy to host the thirty-first Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation, which according to him will give his state a better opportunity to learn from critical stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector and improve on water and sanitation services in the state.
Governor Uno who said his administration has also made significant success in the provision of safe water in the communities that had acute scarcity of water in the past, assured the Minister that his Government has taken note of all the issues raised and will act upon it within one month emphasizing that his government was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government in the areas that would benefit his people.
