Nigeria to develop strategic plan for effective implementation of SDG-6

The Nigerian Government says it is developing a strategic plan for the coordination and tracking of effective implementation of Sustainable Development Goal-6 (SDG-6) in Nigeria.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the 29th Regular meeting of the National Council on Water Resources (NCWR) in Sokoto state.

 

Mrs. Walson-Jack said the strategic plan is to provide guidance and sustainable pathway for various stakeholders in the Water Sector to monitor the level of implementation of SDG-6, across the eight hydrological areas of the country.

 

“In similar vein, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources recently conducted the Voluntary National Review on the implementation of SDG-6.

 

“This is with a view to showcasing the status of its implementation in the country,” the Permanent Secretary said.

 

She added that the two Strategic Documents are therefore the outcomes of the wide and in-depth consultations undertaken.

 

“This is in order to ensure that SDG-6 is mainstreamed and integrated into the various policies and plans in the Sector,” she noted.

 

The Permanent Secretary further said that the theme of the meeting, “Actualising Sustainable Development Goal-6: Prospects and Challenges,” was carefully chosen, bearing in mind that only seven years remains from the target year set for achieving SDG-6.

 

“In this regard, we should review our strategies particularly in the area of implementation of projects and programmes, identify gaps and proffer solutions on the way forward to overcoming the challenges.”

 

She appreciated Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the officials of the state Ministry of Water Resources and the entire people of Sokoto State for accepting to host the meeting.

 

Walson-Jack further thanked the officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stakeholders, and development partners for their support and intervention in the development of the Water sector in Nigeria.

 

“The fact remains that, all our accomplishments in the Sector would not have been possible without your continued technical support and funding of critical water projects across the country,” She said.

 

She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the launch of Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet Campaign as well as signing of the Executive Order to end open defecation by the year 2025 in the country.

 

Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Water Resources in Sokoto, Mr. Dahiru Yusuf Yabo, said the choice of the meeting theme signifies commitments of government to address various water challenges in the country.

 

Mr. Yabo appealed on Federal Government to put to use the established Shagari earth dam which was constructed in the year 2005 during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

“Shagari dam when put in use would help to improve agricultural activities, provide employment opportunity as well as address poverty in Sokoto and its environs,” Yabo said.

 

He called on the participants to utilise the opportunity of the meeting in ensuring the proper implementation of the SDG-6 for the best of the water sector in the country.

 

The Commissioner further urged all participants to come up with Implementable policies that would help in addressing water shortage in dams across the country.