Nigeria minister calls for action on Africa’s water crisis

Nigeria’s Minister for Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe has said unless national governments in Africa pull efforts and resources together, the continent will not be able to overcome its challenges in water resources management.

Expressing concern on the precarious state of access to water for various uses in the continent, the Minister emphasized the need for the Africa Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), the highest political body in the continent  to ensure “coordinated approach to managing and allocating water across competing sectors meet multiple goals and ensure balanced progress in all the sectors”.

Ochekpe spoke during the launch of the 4th edition of the United Nations Water Development report at the recently held World Water Forum in Marseille, France.

“ In most parts of Africa, the main problem is not lack or inadequacy of water resources but the capacity and capability to exploit and manage it.  We are also mindful of the fact that strong institutions, political will and stakeholder involvement are necessary to achieve the set objectives. Consequently, most of the continental and regional organizations have included water resources development and management in their agenda. There is also increasing awareness and acceptance of treating water as both a social and economic good”, said the Minister.

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Posted by AfricaSTI on April 3, 2012. Filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry