Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev on Friday disclosed that the Federal Government through the Ministry executed 1,500 water and sanitation projects across the country in the last two years.
Speaking at a Ministerial press briefing in Abuja to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary, Professor Utsev said that his Ministry completed commissioned the Odo-Ape Dam in Kogi State and Rafin Yashin Multipurpose Dam in Niger State as well as the Amla Dam in Otukpo, Benue State.
“Studies and design have been completed for the construction of Dasin Hausa Dam, a buffer dam in Adamawa State along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon
to contain excess water release from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon that causes severe flooding in states along the banks of Rivers,” Professor Utsev added.
According to Professor Utsev, through the Public Private Partnership Arrangement, his ministry has concessioned a hydropower plant and one Cargo Agro-allied Airport in Kashimbila, Taraba State with the commencement fee of over seven billion naira for the first five years paid into the Federal Government’s Special Account in January last year.
The Minister explained that the ministry under his leadership has also completed several irrigation projects including Bakolori in Zamfara State, Dadin Kowa in Gombe State, and Igogidigidi in Oyo State while over one hundred and fifty-four thousand hectares of irrigable lands have been developed across the twelve River Basins to ensure all year round agriculture and achieve food security in the country.
Professor Utsev said his ministry has also completed and commissioned the Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Yobe State and a water facility at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kubwa Abuja as well as the Birni Kudu Water Supply Scheme in Jigawa while the Gombe Regional Water Supply Scheme has been completed and ready for commissioning.
In the area of Sanitation, Professor Utsev announced that forty additional local governments across the country have achieved open defecation-free status bringing the total number of local governments that have attained open defecation-free status in the country to one hundred and forty-two.
He said his Ministry was committed to delivering eleven water projects before the end of this year while over thirty major projects including Dams and Water Supply Schemes were at the various stages of completion.
According to him, his Ministry is determined to improve sanitation facilities in public places across the country especially schools, worship centers, and hospitals while deliberate efforts were ongoing in partnership with States and Local Governments as well as development partners to ensure that every Nigerian enjoys access to clean and safe water and improve sanitation.
