Minister of Water Resource, Engr Suleiman Adamu, has lamented that Nigeria and eight other member countries of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), face financial crisis to mitigate impact of climate change and pollution from companies operating in the Niger Basin.
Adamu said this in an opening address at the National Workshop on the Establishment and Operationalisation of the Regional Climate Change and Adaptation Fund/Payment for Environmental Services (RCCAF/PES), in Abuja.
All member countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, and other stakeholders were in attendance.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Didi Walson-Jack, The minister said the NBA was established in 1964 by nine nations including to basically promote cooperation among member countries and ensure integrated development of the Niger Basin as was to protect the ecosystem.
He said, “You will agree with me that this cannot be effectively done without the availability of sufficient funds which NBA Executive Secretariat has been battling with for many years due to the fact that contributions are not being paid promptly and support from international development partners are dwindling.”
Also in a message, the Chairperson, RCCFAF/PES, Ad Hoc Committee in Nigeria, Christine GbeDji, pointed out that, “Africa must take charge of itself; our NBA must be aware that development is endogenous and that we need a collective leap forward in order to stop being satisfied with the little assistance our partners provide us with, which does not take into consideration our actual needs.”
Earlier, in an address of welcome, the Director, Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services and National Coordinator, NFS Nigeria, Babarinde Segun, said, “This workshop is very important as it will help strengthen the sustainable financing of the NBA.”
