EU, FG sign MoU on water projects in Niger Delta

The European Union and the federal government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote water projects in the Niger Delta region.

The MoU was signed during the launch of the Bayelsa EU-assisted Niger Delta Support Project (Water and Sanitation Component) in Yenagoa, in the south of the country.

A statement issued by government said that under the agreement, the EU would award N198 million ($1 million) in grants to civil society organisations and NGOs to support community-based actions to boost sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in small towns.

Kate Kanebi, the EU Project Officer on Water and Sanitation, Food and Environment, said the project was part of the wider, $75 million Niger Delta Support Programme covering five states in the Niger Delta region - Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers.

The European Development Fund is contributing $64 million to the programme, while the participating Niger Delta states, the 10 participating local government areas (LGAs) and the benefitting communities are contributing $10.5 million, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is contributing $683,000.

The programme aims “to mitigate the conflict in the region by addressing the main causes of unrest and violence, bad governance, youth unemployment, and poor delivery of basic services,” Kanebi said.

It will “enhance skills and opportunities for youth employment and access to socio-economic services, strengthen public expenditure management systems and enhance access to safe water, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.

“The iron content in our water has been of great concern to the government, and I believe with this project the state will have sufficient potable water,” said state Commissioner for Justice Kemeasuoda Wodu.