Federal Govt, Rivers Target 2030 To End Open Defecation

Rivers State government has disclosed its resolve to partner with the federal government towards the eradication of open defecation by the year 2030.

Governor Siminialayi Fubara stated this when he received in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the minister of state for water resources and sanitisation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo.

The minister’s visit is aimed at assessing the on-going projects, programmes, and challenges within the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority and emphasized the federal government’s vision to strengthen the operation of the 12 River Basin Authorities in Nigeria by enhancing their capacity and securing increased funding to fulfill their mandate under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Goronyo said the mandate of the ministry is to provide sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the socioeconomic needs of all Nigerians through efficient water resources management for basic human needs, irrigated agriculture, hydro power generation, national food security, promoting heathy population, while maintaining the integrity of fresh water and eco-system of the nation.

He said other mandates of the ministry include policy formulation and implementation of water resources programmes and strategies, sanitation and hygiene, particularly ending the open defecation by the year, 2030.

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The minister said the federal government has signed the performance bond to accelerate achievement of the ministry’s mandate in line with eight priority areas of this administration”.

“Therefore, it is no longer business as usual, we are committed to deliver this mandate. Part of the mandate is to cultivate 500,000 hectares of irrigable land for food production across the catchment areas of the 12 (twelve) River Basin Authorities, a crucial step in achieving the nation’s food security goals under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is on this note that I appeal to Your Excellency for more access to additional lands for Agricultural purposes from the State to expand the National Irrigation coverage and approve Title Deeds for acquired lands from communities in the State to facilitate the proposed partial commercialization of River Basin Authorities to enable Public Private Partnership (PPP) key in to some projects,” he said.

The minister called for closer collaboration with Rivers State Government in areas like water supply and sanitation, dam, irrigation and to key into the ministry’s programmes such as SURWASH Programme (Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene).