As part of its efforts to address the many social and
economic problems of the North East region, the
federal government has signed a contract agreement
with SMEC International PTY Ltd for the preparation of
a strategic action plan for the development of water
resources in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin in Yobe State.
Signing the agreement at the office of the executive
director of Nigeria Integrated Water Resources
Management Commission, Abuja, the administrative
secretary of Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin
Trust Fund, Dr Hassan Bdliya, expressed optimism that
the project will address water resources management
issues in the basin by applying the integrated water
resources management approach with the river basin
and costing of viable physical interventions that will
enhance livelihoods and ecosystems in the basin.
According to him, “The project of about €1.9 million is
supported by the grant from the African Water Facility
and managed by the African Development Bank. It
would cut across 6 states in the North West and North
East Zones of the country.”
He added that the agreement between the federal
government and SMEC was a positive milestone in
resolving the lingering degradation and economic crisis
of the region.
On his part, the West Africa regional manager of SMEC,
Mr Jose Fernandes, commended the federal
government for its boldness in signing the agreement,
adding that the effort would go a long way in
addressing the many challenges occasioned by
degradation of the water and land resources in the
basin. Fernandes highlighted the specific objectives of
the project as formulation of the Komadugu-Yobe
Basin Water Resources Development Strategic Action
Plan (SAP), development of a modified reservoir
operation rules for the re-operations of the Tiga and
Challawa Gorge Dams that optimise water resources
allocation and the use and preparation of water
resources development projects for implementation
over the short term period of the plan.
Source: leadership newspaper
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