By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev has appealed for increased funding to boost food security across the country.
Prof. Utsev made the appeal during a courtesy visit by Mr. Ndiame Diop, the incoming Country Director of the World Bank to Nigeria, accompanied by his team, to the Minister.
Highlighting the paramount importance of allocating resources towards food security, Prof. Utsev underscored its potential to spur employment opportunities and curtail criminal activities nationwide.
The Director of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan who disclosed this in a statement on Monday quoted the Minister to have stressed the necessity of fostering a robust partnership between the World Bank and the Ministry to effectively pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prof. Utsev reiterated the ministry’s anticipation of additional funding from the World Bank to facilitate the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) and expressed optimism that the project would not only create job opportunities for youths but also bolster power generation, economic growth and food security.
Acknowledging the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, for his commendable service, Prof. Utsev extended gratitude and best wishes for his future endeavors. He also extended encouragement and support to the incoming Director, Mr. Ndiame Diop, for a fruitful tenure ahead.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Alh. Aliyu Shehu Shinkafi, FCNA, emphasized the imperative of streamlining administrative processes within the World Bank to expedite fund disbursement for project projects execution.
In response, Mr. Ndiame Diop, the incoming World Bank Country Director, expressed eagerness for a strengthened partnership and continued collaboration with the Ministry. He stressed the significance of sustained financial support for the Ministry’s projects and programs.
Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, the outgoing World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, conveyed gratitude to Nigeria and the Ministry for their exemplary partnership. He lauded Nigeria’s strides in the Water and Sanitation sector and assured continued support from the incoming Director to further advance the nation’s development goals.
