The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that Nigeria will receive at least 55 percent of the global water fund allocated to member states within the regional bloc.
This announcement was made by ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitization, Sediko Douka, during the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) for the Framework for Coordination and Monitoring of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Abuja. Douka explained that Nigeria’s substantial share is due to its large population and significant contributions to the regional bloc’s levy.
Douka highlighted the commitment of West African states to integrated water management, which led to the establishment of an action plan in 2000 and a framework in 2001. He stressed the need for innovative water management strategies to address water-related challenges effectively.
The ministerial monitoring committee meeting aimed to revitalize cooperation and implement regional water policies for the development of West Africa. Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Terlumun Utsev, emphasized the importance of unity among member states to advance the water sector. “To truly see growth in the sub-region, we need to be united and work as a team, especially when it comes to the management of our water resources, both surface and underground,” he said.
Utsev noted the significant potential of the subregion, stating that collaboration and partnership are essential to overcoming current economic challenges. “The sub-region has a great amount of potential, and through working together, we can foster a region that can solve its challenges – from climate change, poverty, unemployment, inequality, and more,” the Minister remarked.
The meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which includes water resources experts from member states and West African basin organizations, was held from June 25-27, 2024. The session aimed to review the implementation of resolutions from the 4th Ordinary Session and to rejuvenate the regional IWRM process.
Key resolutions included promoting new transboundary basin organizations, structural reform and capacity building of Water Resources Management Centers (WRMC), regular PCMF meetings, and establishing a regional consultation mechanism on integrated ecosystem management.
The TEC meeting will be followed by the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee of IWRM in West Africa on Friday, June 28, 2024. This session will review reports and recommendations from the experts’ meeting, including the draft ECOWAS-WRMC Strategic Plan 2020-2030, the draft directive on the development of water infrastructure in West Africa, the draft guideline on the management of shared water resources in West Africa, the revival of the program for promoting new transboundary basin organizations in West Africa, and the operationalization of the Regional Water Observatory.
