FG has 1.1m job opportunities in sector, says minister

The Federal Government has created employment in the water sector through its Graduate/Youth Farmers Employment Programme.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, at the 2017 World Water Day in Abuja.

He explained that government has invested heavily in the sector, having completed the construction of Galma Dam in Kaduna State, which would provide about 1.1 million jobs.

Adamu said the scheme, which was modeled after Songhai integrated farm, was launched in seven states of Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, Kano, Cross River, Imo and Nassarawa.

He lamented that the country’s water is undoubtedly the most important natural resource, but the most undervalued and neglected.

He stressed that no part of the country has sufficient quantity and quality of fresh water that could be continually mismanaged without future dire consequence.

The minister canvassed efficient management of all types of water, including wastewater to boost the country’s sustainable development.

According to Adamu, diarrheal disease is responsible for the deaths of 1.8million people every year, adding that about 88 per cent of the burden is attributable to the poor management of wastewater, unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

He said statistics by the World Health Organisation also revealed that in many villages, sewage flows down dirt paths during the rainy season, which allows faeces to contaminate communal well.

According to him, the 9majority of people living along the course of water bodies still source and drink from rivers, streams and other water bodies irrespective of their state, without any form of treatment.

The minister noted that with the completion of the National Water Resources Policy and Strategy, it would help protect and enhance the quality of the nation’s water resources, as well as the efficient management and use of water.

He promised that his ministry would apply modern tools in water management in the implementation of the Water Roadmap through coordinated planning, use and management of water resources.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Adejoke Orelope-Adefuye, commended the ministry’s efforts in achieving the goals of the SDG.