By YANGE IKYAA
The Federal Government, through the federal ministry of water resources, has signed a technical agreement with the CRBE Consortium of China Railway Beijing Engineering Group and the China Water Resources Pearl River Planning, Surveying and Designing Company on the development of a Master Plan for the Niger River Training and Flood Control Scheme towards a sustainable economy for the people of Nigeria.
The honourable minister of water resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the representatives of the CRBE Consortium, Mr. Endre Deri, Engr. Ferenc Viragh, Mr. Mentao Xie Jia Song and Mr. Jiang Kai Cai signed on behalf of the Chinese.
The agreement, which was signed on Wednesday February 22, in the conference room of the minister in Abuja, is meant for the development of
part 1 of phase 1 of the flood control scheme.
Adamu stated that the main objectives of the technical agreement include retaining and utilizing the waters within Nigeria in the tributaries and the two main rivers; controlling extreme floods, erosions and sediment transportation; enhanced complex flood protection by green and complex reservoir leeves, flood detention reservoirs, and retaining and releasing the detained floods as and when necessary for navigation. Others are developing inland water transport by river training measures, including maintenance dredging;
building an integral flood monitoring system; protecting the natural landscape and habitat and enhancing connectivity between river and residential developments.
Also among the objectives of the project are creating job opportunities and quality livelihood for millions of Nigerians, as well as reducing the population and existential pressure on major cities of Nigeria.
On financing of the project, the minister explained that serious discussions were ongoing on how to source for a loan to finance the project. He reiterated that the devastating flood incident in 2022 makes the roll of this project timely to mitigate the flood incidents that often lead to loss of lives and properties.
Adamu noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through his ministry, has laid a workable foundation for the successful take-off of the project. He therefore urged the incoming administration to leverage the good work that has been done.
Among those who witnessed the occasion were senior officials of the ministry, including
the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of water resources, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack; the director of press and public relations, Mrs. Kenechukwu Offie; the director of dam and reservoir operations, Engr. Ali Dallah; the director of legal services in the ministry.
