By Tosin Kolade

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has called for renewed collaboration with its Agriculture and Food Security counterpart toward achieving the nation’s food security mandate.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Shehu Shinkafi, made the call at the opening of the 30th meeting of the National Technical Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation in Abuja on Monday.

He spoke on the theme of the meeting: “People, Planet and Prosperity: Promoting Water Governance for National Food Security’’.

Shinkafi said that the collaboration was needed against the backdrop of the recently-declared state of emergency on food security by the Federal Government.

He also said that it was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government.

According to him, matters relating to food and water availability and affordability have been placed within the purview of the National Security Council.

He said that it was imperative to engage the security architecture to protect farms and farmers and the commitment to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmland nationwide.

“To align with the state of emergency on food security, the ministry has introduced three flagship programmes: Water for Expanded Irrigated Agriculture Programme, Partnership for Expanded Irrigation Programme and River Basin Strategy for Poverty Alleviation (RB-SPA).

“Implementation of these programmes has already begun, marked by the launch of the dry season farming covering 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State in November 2023,” he said.

Shinkafi said that the initiative was aimed at creating between five million to 10 million jobs within the agricultural value chain, adding that it would address the rising cost of food and its impact on citizens.

He highlighted the crucial role of water governance in achieving national food security, stressing the need to harness impounded water in dams for irrigation activities and exploration of project models such as Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria of the World Bank.

The permanent secretary expressed gratitude to development partners and others for support, urging continued efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in the water and sanitation sector.

A water resources expert, Mr Inuwa Kuta, said that achieving water governance for food security was essential and about deliberately putting programmes that would improve the lives of the population.

According to him, effective water governance is acknowledged as a key factor to impactful food security and socio-economic development of any nation.

He said that addressing water governance challenges in food security would be possible when water resources management would be ensured in all sectors of the economy.

Kuta called for more efforts to sustainably grow more food with less diverted water without degrading the ecosystem and by eradicating poverty and hunger by providing water for life and livelihood for all.

Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, the Country Director of World Bank, said that quality governance was vital to the achievement of food security.

Chaudhuri, who was represented by Mr Chinedu Emmanuel, highlighted national food security as a priority of the current administration.

He, however, acknowledged the complexity of achieving the target solely at the federal level, and urged full participation from states.

He said that with an active portfolio exceeding two billion dollars in concessionary finances exclusively for the water sector, the World Bank had been collaborating closely with Nigeria, specifically the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

He mentioned the Transforming Irrigation Agenda in Nigeria as one of the supported projects, saying that it was designed to actualise national food security through irrigation and drainage development.

Mr Samuel Atang, the representative of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, pledged the commitment of Wike’s administration to prioritising access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

He said that the role of water infrastructure in the nation’s capital was crucial, and called for collective efforts to foster change.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation, the apex policy-making body for the water sector, has been at the forefront of providing policy guidance for the sector. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

By Tosin Kolade

The Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) says it is committed to mobilising political parties and aspirants at both state and federal levels to ensure enhanced water, sanitation and hygiene services across the country.

NEWSAN National Coordinator, Mr Attah Benson, reaffirmed the society’s commitment at NEWSAN Stakeholders Forum for the Review of 2023 WASH Charter of Demand on Thursday in Abuja.

Benson said that in 2023, the organisation convened to create the WASH Pledge Card, a tool employed to engage political parties and aspirants in the lead-up to the 2023 General Elections.

He said the endeavour yielded positive results; with political entities enthusiastically signing the pledge cards.

The national coordinator said it marked the first national-level exercise of its kind in Nigeria’s WASH sector.

Benson said that the encouraging response received showcased a growing understanding of the importance and benefits of WASH programmess in enhancing citizens’ lives, health, and overall national development.

He invited parties and aspirants who missed last year’s opportunity to join other WASH champions; further amplifying the campaign for sustainable WASH implementation.

Highlighting the pressing need, Benson reminded attendees of the challenges posed by open defecation and insufficient access to sanitation services.

He quoted the 2021 WASHNORM survey report which revealed that 48 million people in Nigeria still practiced open defecation, with only 46 per cent of the total population having access to basic sanitation services.

Benson addressed the impact of climate change on health and sanitation systems; emphasising the urgent need for integration into WASH strategies.

He stressed the potential economic benefits of improved WASH facilities and services, including poverty reduction, job creation, and healthcare cost savings.

The national coordinator urged sustained efforts to address global WASH concerns, emphasising the provision of water, safe disposal of human waste, and the maintenance of hygienic conditions to safeguard public health.

A Representative from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs Ayaba Kogbara, emphasised the need for concerted effort to improve citizens’ well-being through enhanced access WASH services.

Highlighting the primary objective of the day, Kogbara urged all stakeholders to revisit their roles and commitments made during the pre-2023 general elections meeting.

Kogbara acknowledged advancements but pointed out persistent challenges.

She said millions of people nationwide still lack access to safe WASH facilities, posing risks to health and dignity, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts and devise innovative solutions to address these pressing issues.

Kogbara envisioned a path leading to continuous enhancement of citizens’ well-being and the realisation of the fundamental human right to water and sanitation.

Mr Jose Gesti, who represented Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) Climate Action, highlighted the significant concern surrounding the heightened impact of climate changes on water and sanitation.

Gesti said that Nigeria, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, must actively seek ways to mitigate these impacts by reducing emissions.

He pointed out that the effects were directly and indirectly affecting communities, urging the need for prioritised climate financing for the WASH sector.

He outlined key objectives for addressing climate impacts in WASH, emphasising the importance of ensuring sustainable, safe, and resilient WASH facilities and services.

Gesti stressed the role of resilient WASH systems in contributing to community resilience and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, supported by SWA, served as a platform for stakeholders’ collaboration and action to encourage prioritisation for WASH programmes across the nation. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Tosin Kolade

The Nigerian Government and its Angolan counterpart have officially united to enhance water supply and electricity generation within their respective borders.

This collaborative effort was formalised during a crucial meeting when Dr Jose Bamoquina, the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev and his state counterpart, Dr Bello Goronyo in Abuja.

During the meeting, Utsev underscored the significance of the partnership, emphasising the need for both nations to exchange technical expertise and knowledge in pivotal sectors.

He highlighted the primary focus on improving citizens’ lives through advancements in water supply and hydropower generation.

Acknowledging the necessity for global support in achieving universal access to clean and safe water, Utsev welcomed an invitation from Bamoquina to visit Angola and foster a more robust partnership across various mutually beneficial areas.

The Angolan Ambassador elaborated on the objective of his visit, emphasising the desire for increased collaboration to harness the mineral resources—specifically water and electricity—that both nations are abundantly endowed with.

He highlighted Angola’s potential to export electricity to other countries and outlined plans for the expansion and efficient utilisation of six major dams with Nigeria’s technical expertise.

Bamoquina noted that the aim was to provide potable water and enhance irrigation farming for the Angolan population.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had said that the Federal government will deepen the existing bilateral relations between Angola and Nigeria.

According to the minister, Nigeria and Angola share a vital relationship, as both countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is eager to deepen the relationship between Nigeria and other African countries, including Angola.

“Nigeria is very keen to support Angola’s domestic and foreign aspirations and the country’s overall development and we expect reciprocity in this regard. Indeed, the progress of one is the progress of all,” Idris said.

The minister added that both countries are well endowed with natural resources, especially oil and gas, upon which they depend for significant revenues.

He noted that as the two biggest producers of crude oil in Africa, they are seen as ‘big brothers’ in Africa, with high expectations on them. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Tosin Kolade

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has initiated Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP) interventions in five states to combat the transmission of faecal-oral diseases and enhance sanitation across the country.

Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh, National Consultant for Public Health and Environment at WHO Nigeria, announced the implementation during the National Workshop on Safely Managed Sanitation (SMS) on Thursday in Abuja.

The states–Lagos, Bayelsa, Niger, Sokoto and Bauchi—drawn from the six geopolitical zones, are the focal points for this comprehensive effort which started in 2021.

The interventions aim to address various challenges, such as fighting open defecation, combating water-borne diseases like cholera, addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and facilitating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

According to him, the move comes in response to the alarming health risks associated with poor sanitation, including outbreaks of WASH-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrheal diseases, and neglected tropical diseases.

Discussing Nigeria’s national disease burden, Isotu-Edeh highlighted that a significant 29 per cent was linked to environmental risk factors, including inadequate WASH services, climate change, and chemical exposure.

He pointed out alarming sanitation statistics, indicating that 48 million people engaged in open defecation, with a mere 4.5 per cent of Nigeria’s WASH investment allocated to sanitation.

Isotu-Edeh emphasised the necessity for change, highlighting the absence of sanitation in the country’s yearly economic plan.

He urged political actors to prioritise comprehensive sanitation measures for improved public health, saying the private sector involvement would be beneficial.

“It is worrisome that sanitation has not been positioned in our economic plans, however, there are huge benefits in its value chain; we must all make sanitation attractive and get champions that would drive the change process,’’ he said.

Addressing the escalating vulnerability of health systems due to climate change, he stressed that a temperature rise of 2-3°C was projected to increase the risks of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and lassa fever.

Dr Ibrahim Kabir, Director General of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), highlighted the pressing issue of faecal sludge management in the state, posing a threat to public health safety.

He said that health risks stemming from water contamination, due to improper disposal of faecal sludge, prompted the training of 1,063 manual pit latrine evacuators.

Kabir emphasised the ongoing development of Faecal Sludge Management guidelines and stressed the importance of fostering an environment conducive to private sector involvement in the sanitation value chain.

While advocating for attitudinal change, he urged all stakeholders to contribute to enhancing sanitation and promoting hygiene in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the gathering, which brought together stakeholders from national and subnational levels, development partners and the private sector, marked a significant step towards achieving universal and sustainable access to sanitation. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Tosin Kolade

Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, has urged states benefiting from the 700 million dollars Sustainable Urban and Rural Water and Sanitation Hygiene (SURWASH) programme to fulfill their counterpart funding obligations.

The call was made during the 3rd Federal Steering Committee meeting of SURWASH in Abuja, emphasising the importance of timely contributions for the successful implementation of the project.

The six-year World Bank SURWASH programme, operating in Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau states, aims to provide basic drinking water to six million people and grant improved sanitation services to 1.4 million individuals.

Additionally, it targets extending Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services to 2,000 schools and healthcare facilities, with the ultimate goal of assisting 500 communities in achieving open defecation-free status.

Utsev highlighted the essential role of the Federal Steering Committee (FSC) in providing policy guidance and coordinating the programme.

This, he said is crucial for advancing the objectives outlined in the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Revitalisation of Nigeria’s WASH Sector.

Utsev emphasised the need for states to actively support the programme at the local level by providing adequate funding.

The funding, he noted, is crucial for seizing the opportunities presented by this Program-for-Results initiative.

“It is very important for the states to adequately support this programme at state level by providing adequate funding for their states to enable them take advantage of this opportunity considering it is a Programme-for-Results initiative.

“This improved funding will enable us achieve the activities set in this Work plan and we should also consider scaling up our activities”.

Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support, Utsev underscored the commitment to contribute to the “Renewed Hope Agenda” in areas such as food security and job creation.

He urged participating states to be proactive and committed to the programme, emphasising the importance of improved funding for achieving set activities and scaling up efforts in the pursuit of programme goals.

Mr Abdulhamid Gwaram, SURWASH National Programme Coordinator, said the innovative approach through Program-for-Results (PforR), ensured that the focus was on results and impacting the lives of the people.

According to him, the major problem is the constant belief that programmes should be left to project offices alone, thereby reducing impact that would have been achieved.

Gwaram highlighted diverse areas of interventions for the year, as aligned with states’ budgetary allocations and priorities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the SURWASH Implementation progress mission, conducted from Nov. 13 to 28, 2023, revealed a moderately unsatisfactory rating.

However, the mission team emphasised the continued relevance and strategic importance of the programme, considering the ongoing challenges in accessing improved WASH services in Nigeria and the urgent need for universal access.

The report highlighted a sluggish pace in implementing program activities during the second programme year, largely influenced by the general and state election period in early 2023.

Additionally, challenges included a delayed release of funds to implementing agencies, lengthy procurement and administrative processes, and the finalisation of environmental and social safeguards activities.

Despite these hurdles, the mission acknowledged the Government’s steadfast commitment to accelerating implementation.

Proposals were suggested to ensure the planned results are achieved.

NAN also reports that the meeting had commissioners of water resources from benefiting states, representatives from line ministries, and a review and finalisation of 2024 work plans. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Sadiya Hamza 

By Tosin Kolade

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has cautioned residents of the Federal Capital Territory against improper waste disposal practices posing threat to the integrity of the city’s sewer system.

Mr Ndidi Emma-Agbodike, Assistant Director at Wupa Basin Treatment Plant, AEPB, issued the warning on the sidelines of the National Workshop on Safely Managed Sanitation, in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said residents should refrain from dumping solid waste into sewer manholes which were provided to serve as crucial channels for sewage flow and prevention of spillage.

According to him, improper waste disposal practices is becoming alarming in the territory, thereby increasing the level of blockages of the sewer system.

“Such actions have dire consequences, as the waste and remains do not reach the treatment plants, necessitating additional efforts for removal.

“Once it starts to rain, people tend to disregard the consequences of their actions, exacerbating the problem. This not only obstructs the sewer lines but also poses a threat to the overall environmental health of the region,” he said.

Emma-Agbodike said the practice have caused extensive damage along sewer lines, as such it was critical for the public to stop the practice and cooperate with the AEPB to ensure proper functioning of the sewer system.

According to him, the AEPB is considering educational and awareness campaigns to enlighten residents about responsible waste disposal practices to address the problem.

He emphasised that fostering a sense of responsibility within communities would help authorities to curb the current threats to the FCT sewer infrastructure.

The director urged the private sector to invest in waste disposal, treatment and management in the territory, including the provision of bio-digesters for effective waste treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop brought together stakeholders from national and subnational levels, development partners and the private sector to explore ways of achieving universal and sustainable access to sanitation.

Nigeria is currently off-track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) by 2030.

The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme estimates that sanitation coverage needs to quadruple for Nigeria to achieve universal access to safely managed services by 2030. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Martha Agas

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, says mining firms will be sanctioned if they do not comply with the revised Community Development Agreements (CDA).

Alake gave the warning in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the ministry of solid minerals development on Nov. 16, 2023, launched the revised guidelines for the production of the agreements.

The CDA is a statutory provision that ensured transfer of socio economic benefits to mining host communities.

It is a legal document that contained obligations by the Mineral Title Holder (MTH) to her host community (ies) and vice versa.

Alake stated that the era of disregarding the CDA was over, saying that measures had been put in place to begin enforcement of its compliance and sanction defaulters.

He disclosed that the establishment of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Corporation has reached an advanced stage, adding that the process of creating an enabling law by the National Assembly to guide its operations was underway.

“In working with the legislature to establish the legal and legitimate foundation for the institution, we resolve to ensure that a share structure, in line with private sector-led strategy in which the Federal Government will not hold more than 25 per cent.

“The Nigerian citizens will by public shares hold 25 per cent and private investors, each with a maximum of 10 per cent of the shares of the N1 billion share capital will be achieved,” he said.

According to the minister, government is exploring funding options for integrated minerals exploration project.

He said the project aimed to produce a comprehensive coverage of all categories of minerals across the entire Nigerian landscape.

He further explained that the project could extend to coastal offshores in order to also explore opportunities in deep sea mining.

The minister said that President Bola Tinubu in his determination to address insecurity around mining sites and on other natural resources, set up an inter-ministerial committee to produce a blue print for securing Nigeria’s natural resources.

He said the committee had an expanded meeting with security agencies on Jan. 25, to produce a comprehensive security architecture to secure mineral sites, marine economy and forests.

He said the government was committed to creating an enabling environment for operating business in the sector, through the digitisation of the mining application process through the Electronic Mining Cadastral System.

“Efforts are also being made to improve the Nigerian Mining and Minerals Act 2007 to accommodate the changes over the years and make it more amenable to national priorities,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma