The Federal Government has sought collaboration with Turkish Government in the area of water treatment and sanitation.
This was the outcome of the highly productive visit of the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., to Istanbul, Turkey, aimed at advancing Nigeria’s Water and Sanitation Sector.
A statement on Friday by the Director Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan said, the visit, which took place on June 25, 2024, focused on exploring collaborative opportunities and strengthening partnerships with Turkish counterparts.
She said, during the visit, Rt. Hon. Goronyo and his delegation toured the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility at Duzce University.
Mrs. Imuetinyan said, the insightful tour provided a comprehensive understanding of the facility’s operations, technological advancements, and best practices in wastewater treatment.
According to her, discussions were centered on potential adaptations of these technologies to enhance Nigeria’s water treatment infrastructure, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
She disclosed that a key highlight of the visit was the engagement with representatives from GI Aqua Tech Company, recognized with the Global Award for Water Purification in 2024 in London.
The Director said, “talks revolved around exploring partnerships in critical areas such as technology transfer, capacity building, joint project development and implementation, as well as knowledge sharing and expertise exchange.
“Additionally, discussions touched upon utilizing waste products to bolster agricultural productivity, in line with sustainable development goals”.
She said, Rt. Hon. Goronyo underscored the significant outcomes of the visit, including enhanced knowledge exchange on cutting-edge wastewater treatment technologies between the National Water Resources Institute Kaduna and Duzce University, Turkey.
Mrs. Imuetinyan said, the discussions also identified potential partnership opportunities with GI Aqua Tech for future projects in Nigeria and reinforced bilateral relations with Turkish counterparts in the water and sanitation sector.
Looking forward, she said, the Minister emphasized the identification of future collective opportunities and capacity building initiatives in the sector.
He highlighted plans to promote the application of waste products to enhance agricultural productivity and collaborate with the Irrigation & Water Supply Departments to improve agriculture and water supply across Nigeria.
The Minister concluded that the visit marks a pivotal step towards fostering international cooperation and advancing Nigeria’s water treatment and sanitation capabilities through strategic partnerships and technological innovation.
