The Federal Government FG has unfolded plans to commence the construction of about 10 new dams in the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory FCT. The construction of the projects known as PROJECT 10/37, it said, will begin in 2017. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh stated this yesterday at the public presentation of the water sector roadmap with the theme: “Immediate and Long Term Strategies for the Water Sector 2016-2030,” organised by the Ministry of Water Resources in Abuja. Ogbeh said “We hope to create, in the next few years, 10 dams in each States of the federation. We have a project coming up next year called PROJECT 10/37, we are looking at a minimum of ten dams in each States including the FCT.” He noted that the Nigeria’s Agriculture sector is in dire need of water even as the Minister added that the country can no longer rely solely on rainfall to sustain its agriculture. “It is said that if the world is unfortunate to witness another world war, the cause of that war will be either food or water. Agriculture is in desperate need of water particularly because we know, that we can no longer continue to rely on rainfall to sustain our agriculture. “We need the Ministry of Water Resources more desperately than the Ministry needs its self, we need to irrigate the land, we need to keep the animals, we need water for other reasons. We are looking at a future where, whether it rains or it does not rain, we can continue to produce food because if we don’t, as our population is ballooning towards 450million by 2050, we may face serious problems with food production.” He said. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has through the Ministry of Water Resources, unveiled a 14-year water sector roadmap which is expected to promote development in the sector from year 2016-2030. This is coming nine months after the appointment and resumption of the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, into office. The Minister, said the Road Map encompasses eight major projects which include:” establishment of a policy and regulatory framework for the sector, organisation and manpower review of the Ministry for enhanced service delivery, prioritisation and implementation of the Ministry’s projects, development and implementation a National Irrigation Development Programme (2016-2030) to boost food production.” Others are: “the identification of dams with Hydro Electric Power Potentials for development, development and implementation of a National Water Supply and Sanitation Programme to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.), Development of a Blueprint to strengthen the River Basin Development Authorities as enablers for food security and socio-economic development, identification off alternative sources for funding the delivery of Water Supply and sanitation through enhanced collaboration with Development partners, State and Local Government Authorities, Communities and the private sector.” He further stated that the government has identified detailed implementation plan for the road map adding that its execution was fully on course. “In this regard, we are in strong collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Power, Justice, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Environment, Health as well as Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission ( ICRC), Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Bureau for Public Enterprises, State Governments and other Stakeholders.” He assured that implementation of the road map will be accelerated in the third quarter of the year and beyond.
