FG Boosting Agriculture: 135 New Water Projects Completed for Food Security

As part of President Bola Tinubu's initiative to strengthen agriculture and guarantee the nation's food security, the federal government claims to have finished more than 135 water projects in the last 12 months.

Furthermore, as part of the Inclusive Basic Delivery System for Development and Livelihood Empowerment Improvement Project, the FG is presently carrying out 64 projects that have been supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

This was revealed by Professor Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, over the weekend at the conclusion of the 31st Regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation, which took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Utsev added that 113 water supply contracts have been awarded by the FG and are presently in varying phases of construction.

He stated: "The Ministry has made several noteworthy advancements since the last Council Meeting, which took place in Abuja in February 2024.

The Ministry has completed more than 40 water supply projects in rural, small-town, and urban areas. Other accomplishments include of:

45 projects under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) program were completed; 44 projects under the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PEWASH) program were constructed;

implementation of 64 projects under the Inclusive Basic Delivery System for Development and Livelihood Empowerment Improvement Project that were financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB);

113 water supply contracts were awarded; these contracts are presently at varying phases of construction.

"We are currently working with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to develop Nigeria's National WASH Policy."

Water quality, sanitation and hygiene, and the completion of the Asaba and Umuahia National Water Quality Reference Laboratories are just a few of the accomplishments the ministry has made, according to the minister.