The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Zamfara State Government to unlock the full benefits of the Bakolori Dam for the people.
During a visit by Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in Abuja, Minister Prof. Joseph Utsev reiterated this commitment.
The minister stated the importance of joint efforts in implementing various federal government Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) intervention programmes, highlighting their critical role in improving the well-being of Zamfara citizens collectively.
Utsev mentioned ongoing initiatives aimed at executing WASH programmes beneficial to Zamfara State and the entire nation, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda.
He urged the Governor to promptly release counterpart contributions for the Federal Government to fulfil its obligations to Zamfara’s residents, emphasising the importance of engaging the private sector to construct additional toilets in public areas to combat open defecation effectively.
The minister stressed the significance of engaging religious and traditional leaders in discouraging open defecation to achieve Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of becoming open defecation-free by 2025.
In response, Governor Lawal commended the minister’s appointment and appealed for Federal Government intervention in addressing water challenges in Zamfara State. He assured the administration’s commitment to providing counterpart contributions for ongoing federal projects in the state, affirming the significance of optimising the Bakolori dam project to enhance year-round irrigated farming.
The governor pledged a cooperative and productive working relationship aimed at enhancing the lives of Zamfara State residents.
Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shinkafi, and several directors of the ministry.