FG Plans Committee On Water Sector Dev

The Federal Government has resolved to set up a Standing Presidential Committee on the development of the water sector to facilitate speedy implementation of projects.

This is contained in a communique issued on Wednesday at the end a two-day Presidential Summit on Water held in Abuja.

The communique, read by the Permanent Secretary, of Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali, according to our correspondent stated that the membership of the committee would reflect the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said, “Selected state governors will be drawn from the six geo-political zones and the committee will be chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Also,Vice-President Namadi Sambo is to chair the National Working Group on Sanitation, comprising state governors and relevant Federal Government agencies.’’

Igali said the setting up of the committee became imperative to promote more investments in the water sector, in view of its critical importance to the people, as well as the rising population growth and urbanisation.

He stressed the need for states and local governments to pay their counterpart funding and provide budgetary allocations for the maintenance of water infrastructure.

The Summit called for better monitoring and evaluation standards in all levels of government to ensure better project delivery.

“The right regulatory and legal framework for robust private sector participation in meeting the road map and sustaining investment in all aspects of the water industry is necessary.