‘Water is life’ is an adage that is widely used to qualify the importance of water in human existence, because water is very essential to both human and agricultural survival, it became one of the cardinals of this administration.
Upon assumption of duty in 2016, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu FNSE, FNEng toured round the country to have a first-hand audit of projects in fulfilment of this administration’s ‘change agenda’ intended to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
After a thorough technical audit of all ongoing projects in the ministry, the Minister categorized the 116 uncompleted and abandoned projects into high, medium and low priorities for water supply, irrigation and dam construction.
The Minster hit the ground running guided by The National Water Resources Master plan (2015 – 2030); United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and the Water Sector Roadmap (2016 – 2030) by completing, commissioning and handing over projects to either the state governments, local governments or communities through their established Water, Sanitation and Hygiene committees for appropriate operation and maintenance of the facilities.
Resources were committed towards completing and commissioning some of the high and medium priority projects between 2017 and 2020. So far, the following projects have been completed and commissioned:
- Central Ogbia Regional Water Project, Bayelsa State
- Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State
iii. Rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State
- Sabke Water Supply Project, Katsina State
- Dutsi Water Supply Project, Katsina State
- Mashi Water Supply Project, Katsina State
vii. Takum Water Supply Project, Taraba State
Vii. Sabke Irrigation Project, Katsina State
viii. Rehabilitation of Kargo Dam, Jaji, Kaduna State
- Ekeremor Water Supply Project, Bayelsa, State.
- Mangu Water Supply Project, Plateau State
- Federal University of Agriculture, Markudi Water Supply Project, Benue State
The following projects have also been completed and are ready for commissioning:
- Kashimbila Dam, Taraba State
- Shagari Irrigation Project, Sokoto State
iii. Galma Dam, Kaduna State.
- Ahmadu Bello University Water Supply Project, Kaduna State
Many more ongoing water supply, dam and irrigation projects are scheduled to be completed between now and end of 2020, as follows:
Water Supply Projects
- Inyishi Water Supply Project, Imo State
- Zobe Water Supply Project, Katsina State
iii. Ivo Water Project, Enugu State
- Rehabilitation and Reticulation of Fugar Water Works, Edo State
- Dukku Regional Water Supply Project, Gombe State
- Ilesha Water Supply Project, Osun State
vii. Kazaure Water Supply Project, Jigawa State
viii. Otor-Iyede Water Supply Project, Delta State
Dam & Irrigation Projects
- Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, Oyo State
- Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Project, Sokoto State
iii. Gari Irrigation Project, Kano/Jigawa States
- Kontagora Auna Dam Project, Niger State
- Bagwai Irrigation Project, Kano State
- Tada Shonga Irrigation Project, Kwara State
vii. Adani Rice Irrigation Project, Anambra State
viii. Ekuku Dam Project, Kogi State
- Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, Anambra State
- Ile – Ife Dam Project, Osun State
- Otukpo Multipurpose Dam Project, Benue State.
For optimal utilization of River Basin Development Agency (RBDAs) land and irrigation facilities and to support diversification of the economy, guarantee food security and job creation for Nigerians, the Ministry is presently expanding hectares for irrigation farming as follows:
- Ejule-Ojebe (50 ha);
- Sector 1 of Gari Irrigation Project (248ha);
iii. Bakalori Irrigation Scheme (4,825ha);
- Kano River Irrigation Scheme (1,600ha);
- Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme (2,250ha);
- Rehabilitation of full-length Irrigation Project (800h).
vii. Additional 2000 Ha has been leased out to commercial farmers bringing the total to 55,000 Ha from 2016 to date.
The Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) is another flag-ship initiative of this administration where the Federal Government and the States come in partnership to provide water supply in the country, this initiative has led 22 State Governments to endorse the PEWASH protocols while 11 more States have recently signed up bringing the total to 33.
The River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) remain the most strategically placed Federal Government Agencies to facilitate National Food Security and support employment opportunities, for that, the RBDAs are being constantly revitalized to deliver their mandate.
More so, the Songhai Model, an integrated Agricultural Practice introduced to boost Agricultural production and achieve integrated rural development has been replicated in five RBDAs and till date, 253 farmlands have been leased to the private sector for commercial farming, out of which 181 are fully utilized. Also, the process of partial commercialization of four pilot RBDAs which include Ogun-Osun, Niger-Delta, Upper Niger and Sokoto-Rima are underway
The Ministry’s efforts on improving Sanitation led to the Flag-off of the “Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet” Campaign in November, 2019 towards making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025. Likewise, the promulgation of the Executive Order No. 009 in November 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari to end Open Defecation by 2025 has yielded Certification of 14 LGAs being Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the last 12 months while 10 LGAs are awaiting ODF validation.
In line with Mr. President’s desire to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years, the Ministry has ensured that both direct and indirect jobs are created in the implementation of its projects and programmes. A total of 57,261 direct jobs and 111,588 indirect jobs have been created through the various dam, irrigation and water supply projects completed.
To combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted on all aspects of our lives causing untold hardship and stress to the populace, potable water, sanitation and hygiene are critical to the eradication of the virus, the Ministry has taken strategic steps to help fight the pandemic.
The Ministry rehabilitated 185 Water Supply Projects in the 36 states of the federation and FCT (5 per State and FCT), constructed 185 Solar Powered Water Supply Projects (5 per State and FCT), constructed 370 Public Sanitation Facilities (10 per State and FCT), supported State Water Agencies for their operations to ensure uninterrupted Water Supply, supplied 370 Contactless Handwashing Facilities with Soap and Sanitizers (10 per State and FCT) and engaged 77,400 Youth Volunteers for Handwashing and Open Defecation Free Campaigns.
Finally, the determination and unrelenting quest to improve access to potable water, reduce the incidence of water borne diseases, improve sanitation facilities, enhance food security through irrigation agriculture and the implementation of water resources projects and programmes according to international best practices has been Engr Adamu’s fundamental goals since he assumed office as Minister of Water Resources.
Kenechukwu Offie
Director (Information)
18/9/2020