The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Wednesday said the agency was collaborating with the Federal Capital Territory Water Board (FCTWB) to enhance water projects in the area.
Chief representative of the agency, Ms Makiko Okumura, in an interview in Abuja said the aim of the project was to improve the capacity of the board’s staff.
She stated that the project was about enhancing the capacity of the board to reduce Non Revenue Water (NRW).
She said NRW is water bill that should have been paid for, but is not, as a result of illegal pipe connections, leakages, or non-payment of customers.
“JICA discovered that necessary actions were needed to be taken to ensure that Non Revenue Water is strategically reduced in the FCT.
“Different equipment were provided to help detect illegal connections and water leakage in order to reduce the loss which has negative effect on the board’s revenue generation.
“The project was launched in 2014 in collaboration with the FCTWB staff and JICA experts.
“The activities involved in the project were conducted for over four years. JICA discovered that necessary actions were needed to be taken to ensure that Non Revenue Water was strategically reduced in the FCT.
“The plan and hope of the agency is to ensure that by 2023 when the mid-term plan of the project has been fully implemented, the non revenue water ratio will reduce in the FCT,’’ she said.
Okumura said that stakeholders in water sector from various states and development partners were involved to strengthen the project.
She said JICA had signed agreement with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve the sector.
She stated further that the objective of the agreement was to promote market-oriented agricultural extension services and to improve livelihood of farmers across the country.
The chief representative said JICA had also intervened in health sector through its collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“The JICA had intervened in the health of mothers and children as well as malaria control through community based activities.
“The JICA is also ensuring that healthcare facilities function efficiently and we are trying our best in making sure that we support the Nigerian government for the development of the country,” she said.
Okumura said recently, JICA assisted about 65 Nigerians for master’s degree and internship programme under the African business Education, (ABE) initiative. (NAN)
