The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe presented her Ministry’s score card and promised to deliver more on the Transformational Agenda of President (Dr.) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the Water Sector.
Presenting the score card during the Ministerial Platform on Tuesday in Abuja, Mrs. Ochekpe stated that water is a key driver of the nation’s economic development in the Transformation Agenda in general as it relates to Agriculture, Power, Health and Employment generation.
“The Water Sector Transformation Agenda of the President in the past four years focused on the provision of sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the social and economic need of all Nigerians”, she said.
Continuing, she disclosed that the Ministry engaged in the construction, operation and maintenance of Dams nationwide to impound raw water for potable water supply, hydropower, irrigation, fishery development, flood control and tourism.
Also, she said the Ministry had completed 37 dams of various sizes, rehabilitated 10 Dams, while construction works on 149 dams of various capacities are on-going across the country.
“When the construction works of all the dams are completed, the water impounded in the nation’s dams will be increased by 3.6 billion cubic meters”, she stated. She added that the increase would translate into economic development of the nation as it would boost the hydropower with about 135.15 megawatts of electricity and more water for irrigation.
Speaking on flood control, Mrs. Ochekpe said that various dams for flood control are at various levels of completion.”Kashimbila Multi-purpose dam intended to control water flow from Lake Nyos upstream in Cameroon has recorded 87% completion status”. She added that Datsin Hausa dam that would address flooding as a result of uncontrolled releases of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is also currently under review.
Furthermore, she stated that the Ministry had collaborated with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in releasing flow forecasts along the rivers Niger/Benue system as a follow up to Annual Flood Outlook for the nation.
She commended the organizers of the Platform and promised that the Ministry would continue to perform its mandate in ensuring efficient and effective utilization of the nation’ water resources.
In his welcome address, the host Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku commended the Ministry, its Agencies and the Development Partners in driving Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda efforts in the Water sector.
According to the Minister,”today, water management is very crucial to the entire world in view of Global warming which has affected world production, changed rainfall patterns and also affected fresh water drastically”
Mr. Maku said that the Ministry collaboration with Japanese International Corporation Agency JICA in developing a robust and strategic Water Master Plan for the country would improve the socio-economic fortune of the nation.
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