The federal government yesterday said it would achieve 95 per cent development of hydropower potential capable of producing up to 10,000 Mega Watts of electricity by 2015.
This is part of efforts geared towards? achieving the goals set? by the African Heads of State and Governments under the framework of the African Shared Vision.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe while? addressing newsmen on the achievements of the ministry in the first 100 days in office in Abuja.
This, she said, would be a consolidation phase of the gains of the transformation agenda? and the post Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era which would? guarantee sustainable service delivery.
While assuring that the ministry would achieve 100 per cent coverage in the provision of portable water supply per day for domestic, industrial and agricultural use, the minister said that? irrigation facilities would expanded to realise the nation’s irrigation potential of about 3.14 million hectares, as well as the achievement of 95 per cent coverage in the provision of improved sanitation, good health and hygiene practices nationwide.
According to her, Nigeria has huge water resources’ potential estimated at 263.7 billion cubic meters (both surface and ground water) enough to meet the domestic, industrial and agricultural need of the country that would contribute to the rapid transformation of the economy.
The Ministry? has the statutory responsibility to harness the water resources potential of the country for national development.
Mrs Ochekpe added that the ministry has taken bold steps and articulated holistic approach for the development and management of the nation’s water resources towards meeting the needs of Nigerians.
She also said that with active participation of private sector investors and other key stakeholders , the? attainment of the nation’s transformation agenda would? guarantee access to water in all sectors of the economy.
Highlighting? the achievements of her ministry within the first 100 days, Ochekpe said: “the ministry has awarded contract for the rehabilitation and the expansion of central Ogbia Water Project in Bayelsa State. When completed it is expected to provide portable water to over 13 communities in the area. The? contract for the construction and upgrading of Takum Water Supply in Taraba State has been awarded as well as the? rehabilitation of Goroyo Dam spillway, which breached as a result of the heavy flooding in 2010 and will cost N2.5 billion.
“As measures to improve electricity supply, the installation of 30MW of electro-mechanical turbines for the Gurara Dam has been completed, while evacuation/transmission facilities are on-going. The 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have within the period, engaged actively in agricultural activities, while arrangement has been put in place to rehabilitate the necessary farm machinery for dry season farming. ?
Other on-going projects, according to the minister, include construction of the second phase of additional six zonal water quality laboratories located at Sokoto, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Asaba, Umuahia, and Port Harcourt, as well as the drilling of over 200 motorised and hand pump boreholes by the RBDAs.
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