The Ministerial Monitoring Committee for Intergated Water Sources Administration (IWRM) in West Africa brings collectively the ministers accountable for water sources from the 15 ECOWAS Member States for its fifth extraordinary session, Friday, twenty eighth June, 2024, in Abuja.
The Ministerial assembly follows the just lately concluded eleventh Peculiar Session of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which addressed important points for selling Built-in Water Sources Administration (IWRM) and sustainable growth in West Africa. The assembly coated matters such because the draft Directive on managing shared water sources within the area, the event of hydraulic infrastructures, the promotion of recent transboundary basin organizations, the institution of a West African Water Facility (Fund), and the Regional Initiative for the Growth, Resilience, and Valorization of Water Sources (DREVE).
DREVE is an formidable, progressive program led by ECOWAS and different West African regional integration organizations, notably WAEMU and CILSS, with monetary assist from the World Financial institution. Its implementation is anticipated to considerably improve sustainable growth within the area.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Vitality, and Digitalization, reaffirmed ECOWAS’s dedication to sub-regional cooperation, which is rooted within the shared political imaginative and prescient of all member states as expressed within the “Ouagadougou Declaration” of 1998. This declaration has efficiently guided efforts in built-in water sources administration for practically three many years.
Mr. Douka drew an analogy between the water and vitality sectors concerning entry, highlighting it as one of many main challenges. He emphasised the necessity to expedite the implementation of tangible tasks for water and sanitation entry. Consequently, a regional program has been established to supply clear water to rural and peri-urban areas. “We’re humbling counting on our technical and monetary companions to assist us on this course of,” he mentioned.
Earlier than declaring the assembly open, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Nigeria’s Honorable Minister, Water Sources&Sanitation, emphasised the necessity for unity amongst member states to realize developmental development and handle the sub-region’s water sources, each floor and underground. “There’s a saying that ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’” he added, “and this can be mentioned about our sub-region.”
Engr. Utsey highlighted the abundance of water sources throughout the sub-region, noting that if correctly harnessed and coordinated, these sources might function a cornerstone for developmental development, positively impacting well being, training, tourism, meals safety, and vitality. Nonetheless, he cautioned {that a} lack of correct coordination might result in underdevelopment and battle amongst nations, as actions of 1 nation upstream might pose risks to downstream nations.
“The sub-region has nice potential, and by working collectively, we will deal with our challenges—from local weather change, poverty, and unemployment to inequality and extra,” he mentioned.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS).