The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water Resources, Senator Lokpobiri Heineken, has advised the Ministry of Water Resources to seek for alternative funding for the water sector apart from the usual budget received from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Senator Heineken gave the advice at the National Assembly complex when the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, was invited to defend the 2015 budget.
Heineken said the water sector is critical to the development of Nigeria’s economy through the provision of water not only for domestic uses but for irrigation, hydropower and other industrial purposes.
He said the 2015 budget proposal for the water sector is insufficient and advised the ministry to collaborate with other agencies capable of supporting the development of the sector.
He added that the Senate would work with the executive arm of the government to ensure that all ongoing water projects are completed
In his contribution, Senator Ita Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District, said that the water sector requires adequate resources to embark on water projects.
Enang urged the Minister to seek for assistance from the Federal Ministry of Finance to source funding of some water projects from Subsidy Reinvestment Programme.
In her response, Ochekpe said the Ministry would increase Internally Generated Revenue through the River Basin Development Authorities.
She said that the current water supply coverage in the country is estimated at 67 per cent, which shows that about half of the populations are covered while national coverage for sanitation is 40 per cent.
She assured the senators that the Ministry would step up its partnership with other relevant organizations with a view of sourcing funds for water projects.
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