
By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has advocated for the revitalisation of the abandoned Nkari and Ibiono Ibom dams by the federal government.
The dams located in Ini and Ibiono Ibom local government areas of the State were envisioned to drive agricultural growth and economic prosperity of the State .
Pastor Umo Eno who made the advocacy Wednesday, while declaring open, the 31st Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources and Sanitation -the highest decision making body for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the country, which took place at the Ibom Hall, IBB Avenue, Uyo, on the theme,“Water and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities in the Face of Daunting Climate Change”, drew the attention of the federal government to the plight of the abandoned dams once envisioned to drive agricultural growth and economic prosperity of the State but currently lying dormant and abandoned, a testament to the neglect of the state’s water resources.
Eno was saddened that the two dams with their proposed economic benefits were lying abandoned, saying Akwa Ibom as a state, was ready to offer support in this direction.
He identified climate change as a significant threat to the state’s water and food security, as rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather effects, all pose serious challenges to agricultural sector and water resources.
The governor said in its bid to address these challenges, his administration has implemented several initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change including the setting up of Flood Mitigation Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, the capacitation and resourcing of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) to manage waste, desilt gutters and drains, thereby reducing the impacts of flood, and the conversion of gully erosion site along Dominic Utuk Avenue to a world class family themed park- The Arise Park .
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges of water and food security in the face of climate change, assuring the council of the implementation of the conclusions from the meeting and to work closely with the federal government and development partners to ensure that the State’s water and food security initiatives are productive.
Eno expressed gratitude to the Council and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation for choosing Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital to host the national event.
He noted that the theme of the event resonates deeply with his administration’s policy thrust, the ARISE agenda which according to him, prioritizes agricultural revolution for food security and sufficiency, rural development, infrastructural expansion and maintenance. Security management and educational advancement.
Eno said the ARISE Agenda aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that Akwa Ibom government is committed to working tirelessly to ensure that its citizens benefit from the initiatives and programmes outlined in the President’s bold agenda, especially those that relate to water, agriculture and environment.
He stated that his administration’s commitment to food security and sufficiency is unwavering having recognized the critical role water resources play in achieving the goal, such as in irrigation, livestock production, crop growth, food processing, fisheries and aquaculture, soil health, climate regulation and change as well as rural development.
The governor noted that his administration has consequently made significant strides in reforming and strengthening the institutional framework for water resources sector, recalling that before his assumption of office as governor, he had served as the commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, hence his acute understanding of the issues surrounding water management.
He explained that for the first time in the history of the state, governme
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