FG To Develop Appropriate Strategies For Efficient, Cost Effective Management Of Water Resources

 

The Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, has stated that with the pressure of limited rainfall and very few natural resources, coupled with a rapidly growing population, there is urgent need to develop appropriate strategies for most efficient and cost effective management of the scarce water resources.

The Minister made the disclosure Tuesday, in Abuja, at a two-day national workshop themed: ‘Transboundary Water Governance: Conflicts and Management of Diplomacy’ organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management (RC-IRBM), Kaduna and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, The Netherlands, for Chief Executive Officers and Legal Advisers of the Parastatals and Agencies under Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

In his keynote address, Engr. Adamu said the workshop could not have come at a better time than now considering the worsening impact of Climate Change the world over on the Ecosystems and Water Resources in particular, noting that extreme climate events such as flooding and droughts are already having serious negative impact on the Nigerian population as well.

Engr. Adamu emphasized that good governance of transboundary waters is critical for water security, national and regional socio – economic development, peace and stability, as lack of adequate capacity for effective and coordinated management of transboundary water resources and cooperation across Local and International Boundaries is a major challenge faced by the national governments, regional economic bodies and River Basin organisations within and outside Nigeria.

The Minister informed the participants at the workshop that the Ministry has put in place a comprehensive Bill for Integrated National Water Management comprising strategies and National Water Masterplan for inter- sectoral coordination, tariff setting and conflict resolution.

He commended the continuous and collaborative efforts among the Department of River Basin Operations and Inspectorate, the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management under the auspices of UNESCO Category 2 Center 1, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands towards the capacity building of the managers and operators of the basins to ensure sustainable management of the Basin National Resources.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Walson – Jack, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr. Peter Nwakpa, had pointed out that water is essential for the sustenance of life, hence citizens, industries and governments compete for access to water resources within the River Basins to serve their basic needs, productive uses or national growth strategies. She charged the participants to pay keen attention to the paper presentations that will be delivered by seasoned resource experts and professionals that have been carefully selected for the workshop.

In his elaborate goodwill message, the Director General of National Water Resources Institute Kaduna and the Chairman, Governing Board of the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management, Prof. Emmanuel A. Adanu, advised that Nigeria should be careful and adopt pragmatic approaches on its Transboundary Water Agreements in order to avoid the bilateral issues some countries are experiencing