By Juliet Ukanwosu
The Federal Government has re-emphasized the need for Inter-agency collaborations to tackle environmental challenges in Nigeria.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, restated this when he received the Director-General, National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) Abubakar Sadiq, in his office, in Abuja.
According to the minister, areas of collaborations which includes, climate resilient water supply and sanitation (WASH), programme, will ensure year-round access to safe, reliable, clean water and sanitation services in dam-affected communities.
Balarabe emphasized that the collaboration would further boost access to safe drinking water and reduced water-borne diseases in the affected communities.
On energy saving clean cooking, the Minister disclosed that distribution of clean cooking stoves to households in hydro-basin communities would drastically reduce household energy poverty, deforestation and emissions through the adoption of energy efficient cooking technologies and agro-processing clusters across the country.
Other areas of collaborations discussed between the Ministry and the Commission include erosion and flood management, ecosystem restoration and climate resilient, afforestation programme, job creation, community engagement, among others.
In his remarks, the Director-General (N-HYPPADEC) Abubakar Sadiq, described his Commission as a strategic partner to the Federal Ministry of Environment in addressing N-HYPPADEC challenges in the country.
He highlighted the impactful interventions made so far by the Commission across water supply, sanitation, housing, youth empowerment, water transport safety and institutional strengthening.
Speaking further, Abubakar commended the Minister and his team for their quick intervention in flood warnings and prompt responses to erosion prone areas, flood challenges and pollution management in the country.