Nigeria, on Monday, reiterated its commitment to managing transboundary waters for the Niger Basin region’s benefit.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, made the pledge during a regional workshop in Abuja to validate a mission’s results for a pilot demonstration project.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Adeyinka Adenopo, Director of Water Resources, Planning and Technical Support Services, said the project’s focus was on innovative technologies, capacity development and joint monitoring to support Mount Mandara ecosystem governance.
He emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in managing the Mount Mandara Plateau and Sena Oura/Bouba Ndjida (BSB) ecosystems shared by Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.
He thanked the Global Environment Facility, UN Environment Programme, UN Development Programme and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) for their ongoing support in enhancing regional water governance.
Earlier, NBA’s Executive Secretary, Mr Abderahim Bireme, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for hosting the workshop and acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders in organising the event.
Mr Allomasso Tchokponhoué, the Regional Project Coordinator of NB-ITTAS, representing the executive secretary, stressed the project’s importance in supporting sustainable management and governance of the Mount Mandara Plateau ecosystems.