The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has solicited the support of Development Partners to repair 2,000 boreholes across the country in 2013.
She said this is in order to improve access to potable water and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mrs. Ochekpe revealed this at a meeting with Development Partners in preparation for the forth coming Presidential Summit on Water tagged “Innovative Funding of the Water Sector,” scheduled to hold from 18th -19th February, 2013 in Abuja.
She said, “the Ministry has already repaired 1,000 dysfunctional boreholes in 18 states in 2012 and was now seeking support from the Development Partners to continue with the project. According to her, the 1000 repaired dysfunctional boreholes have contributed drastically to reversing the scourge of water scarcity and prevalent water borne diseases in the affected states”
“She explained that the budgetary allocation for 2013 would not be sufficient to repair the 2000 boreholes so it was necessary to seek additional source of funding from Development Partners.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Amb. Godknows Igali, said that the essence of the Presidential Summit on Water was to enable Development Partners and stakeholders brainstorm and increase commitment to the water sector.
In her response, World Bank Country Director, Marie Francoise-Marie, pledged the Bank’s support and participation at the forth coming Summit, adding that the organization had in the past, engaged in water sector capacity building and emphasized on the sustainability of water projects.