The activities of Niger Basin Authority (NBA) in Nigeria would transform the life of over 30 million people living within the area.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe made this known on Thursday while speaking at the Stakeholders Sensitization Workshop on the activities of NBA in Nigeria organized by the National Focal Structure the (Federal Ministry of Water Resources).
The Minister who was represented by the Director Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Adamu Wakil, said that the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) is a trans-boundary water authority responsible for the management of all activities on the River Niger as it involves nine member countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cot d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and its Headquarter in Niamey, Republic on Niger.
She explained Nigeria’s vital role in decision making and greatest contribution to the budget of the NBA as it hold its 88% of the total population of the Niger Basin and it occupies a total area of 33% of the contiguous landmass.
Speaking on the benefit of NBA investment on Kainji and Jebba dams the Minister said “the huge investment of NBA is designed at developing the socio-economic infrastructure, protect the resources and ecosystem and capacity building aimed at reinforcing and optimizing water resources management in the Niger Basin in order to improve the living standard of over 30 million living along the River Niger.”
She disclosed that NBA in collaboration with African Development Bank (ADB) is developing integrated programme for Development and Climate Change Adaptation in the Niger Basin through sustainable management of natural resources. The programme is aimed at reducing the silting process in the River Niger, improving the resilience of population to climate change and management of natural resources.
In her remarks on the difference between Niger Basin Authority NBA and River Basin Development Authority (RBDAs), the Deputy Director in Ministry Mrs. Alice Ojowu said that the is clear difference between the regional programme and national programme depended on their mandate programme anchored on the activities of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) while national programme of Federal Government of Nigeria is executing through the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) within the catchment areas.
She expressed happiness over the regional programme of NBA having been extended to benefit of Nigerians due to the fact that the National Focal Structure had projected the good image of Nigeria to the NBA. She added that Nigeria been the only English speaking country among nine member states pays lion shares of contribution to NBA.
“By the time the activities of NBA in Kainji and Jebba are completed it will improve tremendously the lives of people living within the area”, she said.
Participants at the workshop who represented their various communities include, the Chairman Ajakuta Traditional Council Alh. Abdusalam Audu, Member of Federation of Women Lawyers Bar. Janet Makun, Community Women Leader Ajakuta, Mrs Rakiya Shuaibu, Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation, Mrs. Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, President, National Coordinator of Users of Natural Resources of the River Niger Basin Mr. Hope Eghe among others.