The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to donate $1 million to the African Water Facility in its effort to address water and sanitation challenges in Africa.
The AWF is an initiative of African Minister’s Council on Water to mobilize resources for the Water and Sanitation Sector in order to meet up with the MDGs/SDGs water and sanitation related goals and the African Vision 2025.
The fund is being managed by the African Development Bank.
President Muhammadu Buhari made the pledge on Friday when he spoke at the 10th anniversary celebration of the AWF in Abuja.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said Nigeria, being the giant of Africa, would take the lead and donate $1 million to the project.
He said: “As is our custom to take the lead in worthy causes, I am pleased to announce that the Nigerian government hereby pledges to contribute the sum of $1.0 million.
“ I urge all stakeholders from within the public and private sector development partners and NGOs to play their role efficiently. I also enjoin African governments to accord increased priority to the water sector in their budgetary allocations. We must deploy our collective efforts to develop and encourage innovative ways of financing water sector investment to meet the enormous investment needs in the sector.”
In his remarks, the Vice President of the AWF, Ali Abou-Sabaa, commended the effort of the Nigerian Government in taking the lead in the donation process.
Abou-Sabaa added that the ADB has committed substantial resources to the AWF for the development of water infrastructure in Africa.
The Executive Secretary of AMCOW, Bai Mass Taal, described Nigeria as the father of AWF.
Taal said the initiative of AMCOW, which gave birth to the AWF, was initiated in Nigeria.