By mohammed Usman.
The Minister of water resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, has said that plans are ongoing by the federal government to ensure that 100 per cent of Nigerians have access to clean and safe water as against the current 70 per cent .
Ochekpe who stated this while responding to call by United Nations Under-Secretary for Sustainable Energy for All, Mr Kandeh Yumkella, at the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Water conference, holding in Stockholm Sweden, said that Nigeria recognises the importance of energy in spurring development and that government was committed to increasing the number of citizens with access to clean and safe water.
In a statement issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, Boade Akinola, ochekpe said that Nigeria would not be intimidated into dropping her plans to use the available water resources in the country for hydro-power adding that “we have found that hydro produces one of the cleanest sources of energy and it is affordable.
She said that Africa needed energy to fast track her development and should not be discouraged from using hydro power, adding ‘’ It is on this basis that government is working with states and the private sector to ensure that appropriate arrangements are put in place for the most efficient use of our water for multipurpose needs including power generation.
The Minister further added that the federal government was striving to enhance the quality of lives of Nigeria through the construction of dams that would increase the nation’s power generation capacity.
According to the statement, the 2014 World Water Week opened yesterday in Stockholm, Sweden with a call on the international community not to discourage Africa from deploying hydro technology for power generation.
