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All dams to produce electricity – FG

By on March 25, 2015

To boost electricity generation in the country, the Federal Government on Monday said it would attach hydropower components to all dams across the country.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said the hydropower components would be incorporated in the designs of the dams in order to increase electricity generation as well as improve socio-economic activities in the nation.

Ochekpe made this known at a symposium organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to commemorate this year’s World Water Day in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Musa Istifanus, said, “Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. It is vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, welfare and productivity of populations.”

Ochekpe explained that the present administration had committed a lot of resources to ensuring development in the sector, adding that some of the abandoned projects in the sector had been completed.

She urged stakeholders to come together and ensure that the country’s natural resources were developed in a sustainable manner.

In his address, the permanent secretary, said the objective of this year’s WWD celebration was to raise awareness about the commencement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals as they affected water resources development and management.

“In line with global focus on sustainable development, the Ministry of Water Resources and its agencies are working towards ensuring the management of the nation’s water resources to meet the present and future needs of our teeming population,” he added.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, said the MDG office had appropriated about N700m this year to support the development of the water sector.

“My office will not relent in its efforts at ensuring that water-related MDG projects and programmes are continued to be given the desired attention in order to meet the MDG goals,” she said.

 

[Punch]