By YANGE IKYAA
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in order to propel the water resources and sanitation sector towards achieving its cardinal objectives.
This declaration was made Wednesday by the minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, during a meeting with NESG members, who visited him in his office in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev stressed the significance of private sector engagement in realizing the ministry’s goals and also commended NESG for its contributions to Nigeria’s development.
He pledged to collaborate closely with NESG to accelerate the implementation of the nation’s water resources and sanitation mandate in tandem with the agenda of the present administration in the country.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, the team lead, recalled the inception of the first summit, where the government and private sector jointly established six fundamental principles, including democracy, national interest governance, the rule of law, enabling business environment, private sector commitment, and free enterprise as the basis for a modern economy.
He highlighted the pivotal role of the summit in driving transformation in Nigeria, including the conceptualization of GSM, pension reform, liberalization of the maritime sector, and numerous development plans.
Dr. Aduloju affirmed the private sector’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry in implementing strategic commitments aimed at attracting substantial international investments and transforming Nigeria’s water resources into a valuable asset.
Mr. Gabriel Ekanem, who is the thematic head for water and sanitation under the Infrastructure Policy Commission of NESG, elaborated on group’s previous collaborations with the ministry.
According to him, these collaborations encompass areas such as water supply, data collection, the water resources master plan, and regulatory frameworks for water resources management.
Also in attendance during the meeting were the permanent secretary, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and several other directors in the ministry.
