The federal government has restated its commitment to deepening collaboration with the World Bank to accelerate access to safe water and achieve food security across the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Prof Joseph Utsev, stated this Wednesday when he received a World Bank delegation in his office in Abuja.
Prof Utsev informed the team that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is anchored on improving access to safe water, and achieving food security through irrigated agriculture thus creating job opportunities for the nation’s teeming population.
The minister maintained that stronger collaboration with the World Bank would fast-track the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project and other critical, high-impact projects being executed by the ministry with the support of the bank.
The minister also assured the World Bank team of the ministry’s participation in the forthcoming Africa Water Forum, scheduled to hold this month in N’Djamena, Chad Republic.
According to Prof Utsev, his ministry would use the platform to showcase the key reforms being implemented under the Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to safe and sustainable water, particularly in underserved communities while highlighting the vast investment opportunities in Nigeria’s water sector.
Earlier the World Bank Task Team Leader for the SPIN project, Zack Zieghlhifer and co-Task Team Leader, Engr Chinedu Umolu, stated that the purpose of the visit was to confirm the ministry’s participation in the forthcoming Africa Water Forum which is being hosted by West African countries, the World Bank and other development partners.