Minister wades into water scarcity in Benue

Hope, yesterday, rose for the people of Atilo-Oglewu community in Benue State, as Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, expressed the ministry’s willingness provide technical competence to the community in Ohimini Local Council in order to alleviate their years of suffering from acute scarcity of water.

Adamu made the promise at the launch of the N1b water project and the celebration of an Idoma musical icon, Madam Alice Igbe Oklobia.

Represented by the Managing Director of Lower Benue River Development Authority, Mohammad Adra, he said the ministry would do everything possible within its limit of technical competence to ensure “there is adequate water supply in Atilo-Oglewu community of Benue State.”

He added that as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to make water available to Nigerians, the ministry has come up with a policy document to comprehensively tackle water scarcity in the country. He explained that in a document entitled:’ The Nigeria Water Resources Roadmap.’

The minister said the government had identified alternative sources for funding and delivery of water supply and sanitation through enhanced collaboration with development partners, states, local council authorities, and communities.

He said: “I want to state here that the ministry and the authority are willing to assist Atilo-ijaha.

Adamu, who charged the community on attaining open defecation-free community, explained that “open defecation pollutes the environment, contaminates water, thereby resulting in water-borne disease, in addition to loss of dignity by the individuals involved.”