NEWS in brief
Zinash Kefale for her part said a study conducted in states
showed efforts are being made to providing clean water, safe
latrine and sanitation. However, Zinash said the level should
be upgraded if they have to contribute for the realization of
healthy generation and quality of education.
Nigeria
World Bank to Spend U.S.$100 Million On Bakalori
Irrigation Site
Gusau — The World
Bank will spend $100
million (N2.2bn) on
the rehabilitation of
Bakalori
irrigation
site in Zamfara State,
head of the 40-man
committee on the
Rice irrigation project
project and Task Team
leader of the bank, Mr David Cassanova, said.
He spoke when his committee on Transforming Irrigation
Management in Nigeria, visited the governor, Alhaji
Abdulaziz Yari.
Mr Cassanova told the governor that the total cost of
the project in six states of Zamfara,Sokoto,Katsina,
Jigawa,Gombe and Borno is $500 million, and that $100
million would be spent on Bakalori irrigation project.
He added that the state government was expected to pay
$8million, representing 8 per cent of the total sum.
Coordinator of the project, Engr. Peter Y Manjuk, said the
project which would be supervised by the Federal Ministry
of Water Resources was expected to commence by January
2016.
Responding, Governor Yari said the government would
release the counterpart fund, considering the importance
of Bakalori irrigation project, especially in the areas of food
security and job creation.
He pledged support for the project, while thanking the
World Bank and the federal government for taking steps to
revive activities at the irrigation site.
Rwanda
Strategy to Solve Country’s Water Scarcity in Motion
The Ministry of Natural Resources has unveiled grand plans
expected to ensure sustainable water use in order to meet
the various water related development targets in agriculture,
energy, in homes and other areas. The country faces an
annual water shortfall of about 330 cubic meters.
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Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • November - December 2015
Around Africa
The plan which falls
under the medium and
long term government
strategies like vision
2020, EDPRS2 and
other specific sector
strategies is informed
by the fact that Rwanda
Rice irrigation project
faces a challenge
related to water scarcity with current water availability per
capita put at about 670 cubic meters per year.
The Ministry of Natural Resources acknowledges that it
is far below the standard threshold of 1,000 cubic meters
annually.
According to the ministry, the master plan will make it
possible: to promote water storage though multi-purpose
dams and rainwater harvesting; and to strengthen the water
resources governance especially at catchment level.
It will also help establishing an effective water allocation
framework and in investing in water resources protection
and other sustainable land management measures to