Towards boosting food production through irrigated agriculture, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has called for collaboration with Plateau State Government.
He is also pushing for end to open defecation in the country by next year.
Professor Utsev made the call on Thursday while receiving Governor of Plateau State Barr Caleb Mutfwang and some members of his State Executive Council in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Minister's Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Terhemen Oraduen
The Minister noted that such collaboration was key to accelerating food production, end hunger and create job opportunities for the youths as well as ensure economy growth and development which are key priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He told the Governor that Nigeria was on course to achieve open defecation free target by next year and there was urgent need for States and local governments to support the Federal Government by constructing more decent toilets in schools, markets, workshop centres and hospitals as well as educate people on the best way to use toilet facilities to ensure a healthy nation.
According to him, he intends to take the campaign to all the thirty six states Governors, traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders, during which he will engage them on the need to educate their people on the negative effects of open defecation on human health and environment.
Professor Utsev also informed the Governor that the ministry with the support of development partners is implementing projects in the water and sanitation sector across the country such as SURWASH and PWASH.
The projects, he said, aimed at improving access to clean and safe water as well as sanitation for all.
He said there was a compelling need for Plateau State government to key into the programmes by making its counterpart contributions to enable its citizens benefit from such interventions.
He thanked Governor Mutfwang for the visit and assured him of more robust engagements that will be of immense benefits to his people.
Speaking earlier, the Plateau State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang explained that the visit was to congratulate Professor Utsev and his team for the giant strides they have achieved so far and to appeal to Professor Utsev to support his state by intervening in the water and sanitation challenge in the state.
Governor Mutfwang said his administration has taken proactive steps to tackle security challenges that have bedeviled the state for years in order to enable his people live in peace and continue with their farming activities and normal lives
The Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation Barr Bello Goronyo described the Governor's visit as a sign of commitment of a leader who is committed to better the lives of his people.
He urged him to release land title deeds to the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority to enable it scale up irrigation farming in the area, which is one of the catchment states.
The Directors of Irrigation, Water Supply and River Basin, who also spoke during the meeting, said the Ministry was carrying out dams and irrigation projects in the state, but vandalism of equipment and insecurity have hampered the success of the projects.
Appeal was therefore made to the Governor to provide more security for its project sites.