The Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has called on the people of Benue State to continue to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) administration in achieving the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Prof. Utsev, who made the call while interacting with journalists at his Makurdi residence, said he was in the state to sit with the people of Benue and sensitise them on the development projects President Tinubu has been doing, is doing, and plans to do for the people of Benue State.
Among the very important projects of the President Tinubu administration in Benue, Prof. Utsev said, is the ongoing construction of a major bridge – Buruku bridge – on River Katsina-Ala, the ongoing dualisation of the Makurdi-Otukpo-9th Mile Road, and the Makurdi-Yandev-Katsina-Ala Road, for which the contract for construction, he said, has been awarded. These projects, Prof. Utsev said, when completed, will significantly contribute to the transportation of agricultural produce and services to markets, thereby improving the people’s economy and providing jobs.
Speaking specifically about the achievements of PBAT through his ministry in Benue State, Prof. Utsev mentioned the construction of “several water schemes,” including the Buruku-Gboko Water Works, Ugbema Water Works, Wannune Water Works, and Otukpo Dam, among others.
He also mentioned the Makurdi irrigation project, Ogene Haji, Ber Agbum, and others, which are variously under study and design, as part of the PBAT administration’s efforts to enhance the people of the state’s economy and achieve food security.
The Tinubu administration, Prof. Utsev said, is also carrying out a mega water scheme for the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), to serve the university and the university community.
According to Prof. Utsev, to check flooding in the state, the Tinubu administration identified a spot on the banks of River Katsina-Ala to collect excess water from the Lagdo Dam to serve the purpose and also generate electricity to add to the National Grid for economic and industrial purposes.
“We have a sustainable energy and power programme to boost the energy needs of Nigerians by the introduction of a hydro component into our dams – existing ones and the new ones to come. The essence is to boost food production in the country. When this comes on board, more jobs will be created, and the economy of the country will be enhanced,” Prof. Utsev said.
Prof. Utsev, who acknowledged water as “life,” stated that his ministry has the support of PBAT to ensure the availability of clean, safe water to communities facing water challenges.
“In all the geopolitical zones in the country, we are reaching out to communities with the provision of water. Water is very important for irrigation agriculture, for driving turbines for energy production and domestic purposes, and for dissolving food and transporting it. Without water, agriculture can’t function. So we have no choice but to make sure that every community in Nigeria has water, and we are moving with our partners (donors), and PBAT is not leaving anything unturned to achieve that,” Prof. Ustev said.
Speaking on the achievement of 2030 World Open Defecation Day, Prof Utsev said, “We have identified several ways that we can move this campaign”, and named the media as a very important tool to drive the campaign.
He explained that his ministry is partnering with stakeholders, partners, and governments to educate people about the need and importance of using the toilet.
According to Prof. Utsev, no fewer than 158 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria have been certified Open Defecation Free and are confident that, by 2023, Nigeria will be open defecation-free.
