Ministry Moves To Ensure Implementation Of Master Plan

The Federal Ministry
of Water Resources says it will ensure full implementation of the National Water Resources Master Plan recently handed over to it by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Director Planning Research and Statistics of the ministry, Mrs Lami Bagaiya, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
She said that  the Project Monitoring Unit, inaugurated by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, with the aim of implementing the project, would produce a list of projects that could be implemented within a given time.
According to Bagaiya, the unit will also create a ‘development plan’ that will help track and document projects implemented in the sector.
“We will produce and document projects and then have them implemented within a certain period either medium-term or long-term plan. “ Nigeria used to produce this development plan but we have lost this tradition.
“The development plan will set us on the right path of the water sector, because we found out that this is the way to project the water sector and it will enable us to track the implementation progress.’’
She stated that the review of the master plan by the Japanese agency was part of its technical assistance from the Japanese Government, as agreed with the Nigerian Government.
She added that such assistance was on the platform of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) programme of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international assistance between countries.
She said that apart from technical assistance from the agency, the water sector was also benefitting from the available grants it provides.
“We are collaborating with JICA on grant assistance also and that grant assistance is given to people who apply for it
“And the grant is being coordinated within the ministry through the Department of Water Supply.”
It would be recalls that the Nigeria’s Water Resources Master Plan was first developed by JICA in 1995 and recently reviewed and handed over to the Ministry of Water Resources for implementation.

Commissioner for Environment, Katsina State, Mr Jamilu Danmusa (2nd left) in a handshake with representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation, Mr Rabe Mani (2nd right), at the opening of 2014 seasonal rainfall prediction follow-up workshop in Abuja last Thursday. With them are Consultant and Team Leader, Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof. Tunji Arokoyo (left) and President, Global Climate Technology, Dr Shrikant Jagtap. Photo: NAN