Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has announced the state’s onboarding into the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme, a World Bank-assisted initiative aimed at improving access to potable water, sanitation and hygiene across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Mr Ugwu Odoh, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
He described the development as a major boost to revive the state’s ailing water sector.
Odoh said the SURWASH programme would “open up the water sector” by supporting infrastructure development, investment and public-private partnerships aimed at expanding access to safe and reliable water.
He said the government, upon assumption of office, undertook a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing the water sector as part of efforts to address years of underinvestment and infrastructure decay.
“Before this administration, the water sector in Benue
State was in a very bad shape. Upon assumption of office, His Excellency gave me a marching order to look at what we needed to do to improve the water sector and give the people of Benue State access to clean water.”
He explained that the government subsequently worked with stakeholders and water experts from across the country to review the existing legislation and develop a new Water and Sanitation Reform Law for the state.
Under the new law, Odoh said, water is now treated as a commodity rather than merely a utility, creating opportunities for private investors to participate in the sector and recover their investments through public-private partnership arrangements.
The commissioner said the SURWASH programme would further strengthen the reform by providing support for the development of water infrastructure through collaboration between the state government, the World Bank and private-sector partners.
