Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe says the Federal Government would seek $1bn from its development partners to improve water supply and irrigation services in Nigeria.

At the third workshop on performance assessment, benchmarking and governance issues of water agencies in Nigeria, Ochekpe said since the commencement of the programme in 2004, close to $1bn in loans and grants have been sourced by the Federal Government from the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Union, USAID and the Islamic Development Bank for its implementation in 12 states.

“The level of success being recorded in the implementation of the programme has given us the confidence to plan and support the process of up-scaling it to cover water supply and irrigation development in additional 12 states and two River Basin Development Authorities. When the ongoing process matures, additional facilities of about $1bn will be further sourced from the partners,” she stated.

She explained that the loan obtained in 2004 was primarily to boost infrastructure in 12 states.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the governments of the states that are currently on the programme to be more proactive through the formulation and implementation of necessary action plans that will enhance the achievements of sustainable water service delivery to the citizens of their states,” Ochekpe added.