Nigeria is set to benefit more than 55 per cent from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community levy allocated for the development of water resources in the region.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, disclosed this at the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa, held in Abuja on Friday.
Douka, who represented Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the crucial role of Integrated Water Management (IWRM) for the economic and social development of the region.
He highlighted the long-standing commitment of West African nations to IWRM, which was initiated with the adoption of the Regional IWRM Action Plan in 2000 and the establishment of the Permanent Coordination and Monitoring Framework (PCMF) in 2001.
Douka pointed out that the key objectives of the Abuja session includes revitalising the Permanent Coordination and Monitoring Framework (PCMF) and reviewing the implementation of the West Africa Water Resources Policy (WAWRP) adopted in 2008.
He said the key topics on the agenda in the session include the draft 2025-2035 Strategic Plan for the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, new directives on shared water resources management and the development of hydraulic infrastructures.
According to him, the major highlight of the meeting was the regional initiative for the development, Resilience and Valorisation of Water Resources (DREVE).
Douka described this programme, supported by the World Bank, as a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable development and resilience in West Africa.
He called for swift action to implement projects that provide clean water and sanitation to rural and peri-urban areas, urging technical and financial partners to support these efforts.
Earlier in his welcome address, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised the importance of unity and teamwork among West African nations for effective water resource management.
He emphasised the significant potential of West Africa’s water resources for regional development, stressing the need for integrated and participatory management to avoid conflicts and ensure sustainable growth.
The session considered several strategic initiatives, including the ECOWAS-WRMC Strategic Plan 2020-2030, directives on water infrastructure development and guidelines for managing shared water resources.
Utsev reiterated the historical commitment to integrated water management, dating back to the 1998 West African Ministerial Conference and the establishment of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring (PFCM) in 2001.
Utsev also underscored Nigeria’s role in the ECOWAS Special Project for Access to Drinking Water in Rural Areas and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to leveraging its expertise for the success of these projects. He assured the participants of their safety and the conducive environment in Abuja for fruitful deliberations.
