MEETING OF THE NIGER BASIN AUTHORITY/NATIONAL FOCAL STRUCTURE (NBA/NFS) AND VALIDATION OF THE NATIONAL REPORT ON THE PROGRAMME FOR THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE NIGER BASIN HELD AT HARVESTER’S HOTEL & SUITES OWERRI, IMO STATE, 26TH-27TH JUNE,2019.
Federal Ministry of Water Resources held a quarterly meeting of the Niger Basin Authority-National Focal Structure meeting from 26th-27th June, 2019 where the Report on the Programme for the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC) was validated.
In his opening remarks, The Managing Director Anambra-Imo River Basin Basin Development Authority ,Engr. Gerald Osuagwu expressed his delight in meeting with the NBA-NFS Stakeholders and said that The NBA-NFS is mandated to hold quarterly meetings in order to update Members on the progress of activities on the NBA Projects and Programs in Nigeria and to ensure that adequate information on activities of the NBA is transmitted to all Members of the NFS. The NBA-NFS is also expected at the quarterly meetings to review activities of members in the previous quarter with the view of harmonizing same and evaluate actions taken to implement recommendations made at the previous meeting at both national and regional levels.
He stated that the last meeting of the Niger Basin Authority – National Focal Structure (NBA-NFS) chaired by the immediate past Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE at Vines Hotel, Abuja on 14th July, 2017 focused on “Tackling the Dwindling Flow of the River Niger, the Development of Kandadji Dam Project Upstream the River Niger and other related issues”. The recommendations from that meeting will be reviewed to ascertain the level of implementations, validate the Report on the Programme for the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC) and get updates on activities carried out within the different catchment areas.
He added that Currently the NBA with the support of the AfDB, is finalizing preparations for the implementation of the “Programme for the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC)” in various locations within the catchment areas of Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA), Upper Benue River Basin Authority (UBRBDA), Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) and Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA). A Project implementation office to be manned by National Coordinator, Finance and Admin. Expert, M&E, Procurement, among others is expected to be set up to coordinate the activities of the project and ensure implementation.
The Deputy National Coordinator of NBA-NFS Mrs. Alice Ojowu gave an update Report on the activities of NBA-NFS setting the stage for presentation of papers, Reports, deliberations and recommendations by Stakeholders. At the meeting were representatives of Federal Ministry of Agric and Environment, NIWA, Sokoto-Rima, Anambra-Imo, Upper Niger and Upper Benue River Basin Development Authorities, Mainstream Energy Services Ltd and other Private Sectors.