Environment
FG Targets Women For Water Programme
The Federal Government says plans are under way to establish water kiosks and sanitation facilities that will be strictly managed by women and girls in the FCT, to boost women empowerment.
The Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Samuel Ome said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recently.
The Tide recalls that the Minster of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, had earlier hinted that the ministry would embark on a low cost high impact empowerment programme for girls and women.
The pilot programme, she said, would be done in collaboration with the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The programme aims to create key target, employment and wealth for girls and women through the management of water kiosk facilities, water supply schemes and other related economic activities.
Ome said that the programme was targeted at increasing women and girls’ access to adequate, appropriate and safe management of waste water sanitation facilities in public places.
The programme would in turn, reduce incidences of water borne diseases and other challenges associated with inadequate water supply and sanitation facilities.
While expatiating on the details of the programme, Ome said the ministries were working out intricacies towards building water kiosks and sanitation facilities in bus terminals, shops and schools, for public use.
“Looking at empowerment of women and girls, gender empowerment, gender is a cross-cutting issue.
“We are working on one— take the ladies for instance, in all our motor parks, you find that most of them hardly address the issue of nature in most public places and they endure, the inconveniences that are there.
“We recognise that in schools also, the reason is that the male and female cultural practices are different; a man may choose to turn behind and do his thing but a lady won’t do that so she bears that pain and whatever inconveniences.
“So we are looking at such public places like markets, motor parks and all these schools and most of them are not hygienically sound.
“What type of level of sanitation do we introduce there to improve it? if you have gone to some motor parks, bus terminals, bus stops here and there, you see how people half way of the journey they come down, to look for where to ease themselves and such things.
“We are looking at all such areas that particular people, segment of society are disadvantaged, what can we do.
“Government wants to show example, other communities and individuals can come in to complement.”
Ome said that the move by the government would encourage women and girls’ participation at community levels in water management operations and enhance their capacity to take ownership of water schemes.
“It will involve source of water where they can manage water points and its distribution.
“We have also hygienic sanitation environment like toilets and washrooms where people can ease themselves and be happy to use the facility.
“So that is the philosophy of it, and it will lead to the empowerment of keeping them busy, generating some income for them.
“At the same time, providing service and keeping the environment clean and neat so we are still working on it.”
The Ministry of Water Resources, apart from creating these kiosks, hopes to train women on how to get involved in water contract jobs for better economic empowerment.
These women programmes would also be used to acquire statistical data for future water projects in their localities, he said.
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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