The Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, says it is developing a strategic plan for the coordination and tracking of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal-6 (SDG-6).
SDG-6 seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the 29th Regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources (NCWR) in Sokoto.
The 29th Regular meeting of the NCWR has “Actualising Sustainable Development Goal-6: Prospects and Challenges” as its theme.
According to Walson-Jack, the strategic plan is to provide guidance and sustainable pathway for various stakeholders in the Water Sector to monitor the level of implementation of SDG-6, across the eight hydrological areas of the country.
She said that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources recently conducted the Voluntary National Review on the implementation of SDG-6.
Walson-Jack said the review would help to showcase the status of SDG-6 implementation in the country.
The Permanent Secretary added that the two Strategic Documents were the outcome of the wide and in-depth consultations undertaken.
“This is in order to ensure that SDG-6 is mainstreamed and integrated into the various policies and plans in the Sector,” she said.
Walson-Jack said that the theme of the meeting was carefully chosen, bearing in mind that only seven years remained from the target year set for achieving SDG-6.
“In this regard, we should review our strategies particularly in the area of implementation of projects and programmes, identify gaps and proffer solutions on the way forward to overcoming the challenges,” she said.
Walson-Jack thanked Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the officials of the state Ministry of Water Resources and the entire people of Sokoto State for accepting to host the meeting in the state.
She also thanked the officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stakeholders, and Development Partners for their support and intervention in the development of the Water Sector in Nigeria.
“The fact remains that all our accomplishments in the sector would not have been possible without your continued technical support and funding of critical water projects across the country,” she said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Dahiru Yusuf-Yabo, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, commended the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for accepting to hold the council meeting in the state.
Yusuf-Yabo appealed to the Federal Government to put to use the established Shagari earth dam which was constructed in 2005 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He called on the participants to utilise the opportunity of the meeting to ensure proper implementation of the SDG-6 for the benefit of the society.
By Muhammad Nasir
