9 dams and 7% more potable water in 2 years: Minister of water resources gives mid-term score card (READ)

by David Odom

Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources
Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources

 

The Federal Government says access to potable water in the country has increased from 58% to 65% in the last two years.   Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ockekpe announced this in Abuja while presenting the Mid-term scorecard of her ministry at the ongoing 2013 Ministerial Platform.

Citing a recent national assessment, the Minister informed Nigerians that water sanitation equally scaled up from 32% to 41% within the period under review.

She said the increase in access to potable water was largely due to the completion of water supply projects across the country.

Mrs. Ochekpe mentioned some of the completed projects to include Northern Ishan Water Supply Project in Edo, Mangu Water Treatment Plant in Plateau, Greater Makurdi Water Supply Scheme, rehabilitation 1000 dysfunctional hand-pumps in 18 states and the completion of 545 hand-pumps and 885 motorised/solar powered boreholes across the country.

She said within the period under review, the Federal Government collaborated with some development partners and donor agencies to execute the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in Niger, Katsina and Ekiti States.

She listed other projects as “EU assisted Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme in Adamawa, Delta, Ekiti, Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe States.

“JICA assisted Rural Water Supply Programme in Oyo, Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Enugu, Taraba and Ondo states.  Chinese assisted Rural Water Supply Programme in 18 states and the FCT”, she disclosed.

In the same vein, the World Bank and African Development Bank assisted in the implementation of Urban Sector Reform Water Projects in Kaduna, Ogun, Enugu, Cross River, Taraba, Lagos and Osun states.

Furthermore, Mrs. Ochekpe stated that “substantial progress was made in the construction, operation and maintenance of dams nationwide for water supply, hydro-power, flood control, irrigation, fisheries development, tourism and recreation”.

She said with the completion of nine dams in different parts of the country, the volume of water stored in the nation’s reservoirs increased by 422 MCM.

Some of the dams completed and ready for commissioning include the Ibiano Ibom Dam, Dutsi Dam, Mashi Dam, Galma Multipurpose Dam, Amauzari Dam, and Owena Dam Treatment Plant.

According to her, the ministry also effected the transfer of water from Gurara Dam to Lower Usuma Dam to the tune of 100 MCM to augment water supply to the FCT.

Similarly, water was also transferred from Alau Dam to Maiduguri Metropolis, Goronyo Dam to Sokoto, Oyan Dam to Lagos and Abeokuta, Ikere Gorge Dam to Iseyin Town in Oyo State, Dadin Kowa Dam to Gombe, Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams to Kano Metropolis and Owiwi Dam to Abeokuta.

In his opening remarks, Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku said the present administration had created a synergy between water supply and agriculture with a view to boosting food production in the country.

*******************************

The Ministerial Platform, an initiative of the Ministry of Information led by Mr. Labaran Maku, which began on June 3, 2014 is “designed to promote national conversation and good governance” was attended by the media, organised civil society, the private sector, professional guilds, and organised labour to “make the national conversation on the nation’s development process fully participatory”.

The Ministerial Platform comes up between 11am and 2pm will be broadcast live on NTA, FRCN, VON, AIT, and Channels Television as well as the website of the Federal Ministry of Information.

Nigerians all over the world are also expected to participate in the programme through the Social Media Platforms on the following addresses: www.fmi.gov.ngwww.livestream.com/fminigeria; www/youtube.com/fminigeria; www.facebook.com/fminigeria; and Twitter handle @fminigeria.

Nigerians can also join the conversation on BlackBerry messenger at 292816FB and by sending sms to 08091876419 (SMS only).

READ MORE:

#MinisterialPlatform2013: Okonjo-Iweala, Abdullahi give mid-term report today

“My ministry needs over N1 trillion to develop the Niger Delta” – Niger Delta minister, Orubebe (READ)

Get a life! Niger Delta minister, Orubebe says 50-year-olds can’t claim to be youth

“Lagos State is running on federal infrastructure”: Labaran Makun comes out swinging at the launch of the 2nd Ministerial Platform

“Our ministry has employed 4,000 youth, and 500 youthful engineers’ – Minister of works, Mike Onolememen

President Jonathan continues mid-term reports with launch of 2nd Ministerial Platform today

Comments (3)

  1. 1. It's really nice that so many platforms are made available for our public servants to report progress and for citizens to feedback into the process.
    2. We the citizens are not feeding back enough joo.
    3. Water and potable and dams, I don't really understand, maybe the Minister should draw us a picture. I don't think Nigeria has potable water. I have seen a project in Ekiti State. And when I was in Adamawa, I saw a large rental property built supposedly by the local chief of the water board. But as far as the state supplying water reliably, I don't think I've seen that in the last how many years. I need a picture – what's the demand/target, what's the cost (billing, sustainability plan), and how fast does that need to grow (7% every two years?).
    4. I heard about the plan to regulate bore-hole drilling. I think this is the right time for such regulation, although I don't see how one can implement it with real-life corrupt Nigerians who would just develop a trade in bore-hole the permits.

    Anyway…

  2. 1. It’s really nice that so many platforms are made available for our public servants to report progress and for citizens to feedback into the process.
    2. We the citizens are not feeding back enough joo.
    3. Water and potable and dams, I don’t really understand, maybe the Minister should draw us a picture. I don’t think Nigeria has potable water. I have seen a project in Ekiti State. And when I was in Adamawa, I saw a large rental property built supposedly by the local chief of the water board. But as far as the state supplying water reliably, I don’t think I’ve seen that in the last how many years. I need a picture – what’s the demand/target, what’s the cost (billing, sustainability plan), and how fast does that need to grow.
    4. I heard about the plan to regulate bore-hole drilling. I think this is the right time for such regulation, although I don’t see how one can implement it with real-life corrupt Nigerians who would just develop a trade in bore-hole the permits.

    Anyway…

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail