Nigeria joins UN treaty on water convention for protection

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu has revealed that Nigeria recently took a significant step to join a United Nations Treaty known as Water Convention on the Protection and Use of Trans boundary Water courses and International Lakes as a proactive measure towards ensuring sustainable management of trans boundary waters.

Adamu revealed this recently at the opening ceremony of the 29th Regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources with the theme “Actualising Sustainable Development Goal-6: Prospects and Challenges” at Kasarawa, Sokoto.

The Minister in a statement signed by the Director Press and Public Relations, Mrs Kenechukwu Offie on Friday recalled that the commitment to join the Treaty was guided by a roadmap for its accession to and future implementation of the United Nations Water Convention, which was ratified by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 27th October, 2022.

He added that Nigeria is expected to benefit from the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which initiated the Convention, to address current water challenges in the Countries of West Africa, including population growth, increasing urbanization, pollution, irrigated agriculture and industrialization.

Engr Adamu further revealed that the Ministry, in its quest to keep track of its activities, has produced a document titled “National Water Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework” which is predicated on the proposed National Water Resources Bill and key Policy Statement no.11 of the National Water Resources Policy (2016) which states that “A robust Monitoring and Evaluation System will be applied to measure both output and impact of water resources investments and programmes on the lives of the beneficiaries and the environment, improve accountability, ensure successful project delivery and judicious use of the nation’s resources”.

He noted that six states namely; Bauchi, Enugu, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Oyo have domesticated the Framework, while Lagos State has commenced the process of domestication,he urged the remaining 29 States to do the same.

Adding that the passage of National Water Resources Bill into law will contribute to improved management of Nigeria Water Resources and the proper harnessing of both surface and groundwater to support the nation’s social economic needs.