Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has revealed that the federal government wrote to the state governors to collaborate in the Open Defecation Free Nigeria Campaign (ODF).
According to the minister, it will ensure the provision of more toilet facilities and other sanitation services across the country.
This is even as he expressed the federal government’s readiness to partner the Borno State Government on food production to enhance food security, leveraging on the irrigation and River Basin potentials in the state.
This, he said, will align with the Food Security Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The minister said this recently when Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev highlighted the importance of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programmes of the ministry, revealing the efforts of Federal Government and Development Partners in the areas of Sustainable Urban and Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH), and Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Sanitation (PEWASH) and other programmes such as Dams and Irrigation projects to accelerate their timely implementation at the grassroots levels.
He further stated that the ministry was finalizing arrangements to visit all 36 States to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the water and sanitation situation seeking areas of intervention and possible collaborations.
He noted that he had written to the state governors, urging them to collaborate in the Open Defecation Free Nigeria Campaign, in order to ensure the provision of more decent toilet facilities and other sanitation services across the country to foster a healthier nation.
He emphasized the federal government’s readiness to support states in addressing their water and sanitation needs and assured Governor Zulum that his ministry was fully prepared to assist Borno State in enhancing agriculture through irrigation systems and water schemes.
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Zulum highlighted that the visit seeks collaboration with the ministry to harness the rich agricultural potential of the state and revive its irrigation potentials.
He appealed to the federal government to take advantage of the vast arable lands in Borno State and fast-track the partnership for irrigation purposes.
