By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
A USAID funded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) advocacy group, IbomWASH+ Policy Cluster Project has expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno over the announcement of the creation of a stand- alone Ministry of Water and Sanitation in Akwa Ibom.
The Governor had announced the creation of the new ministry in a restructuring of MDAs in the state while addressing participants on the Day 3 of the Akwa Ibom Dialogue for interpretation and implementation of the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda blueprint in Uyo on Wednesday.
In a statement in Uyo on Thursday, Project Director of IbomWASH+ Cluster, Prof Gabriel Umoh said the creation of the new ministry has been one of the major advocacies of the Cluster.
“IbomWASH+ has been working asiduously with other stakeholders to advocate for the establishment of Ministry of Water Resources and we are happy that the Governor has hearkened to our call.
“With the new Ministry, water resources, sanitation and hygiene issues in the State would receive the attention it deserves. We thank all who worked with IbomWASH cluster towards the realisation of this feat.
“It is important that the WASH Policy, WASH Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, and Akwa Ibom State Open Defecation-free Roadmap which were submitted by IbomWASH cluster to Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and was referred for further discussion be approved so as to assist the new Ministry with the right tools to work with.
“These are ancillary documents to the Water Sector Law of the State It is also our prayer that a strong team be assembled to run the new Ministry for effective service delivery and accelerated development of Akwa Ibom State.
“We in IbomWASH cluster will continue to work with the new Ministry and other stakeholders in the WASH Sector to make sure Akwa Ibom State is top notch on matters relating to WASH.” The statement said.
According to the new arrangement, the Ministry of Agriculture has been merged with Rural Development, a new Ministry created for Water Resources and Sanitation while Ministry of Power would function in a separate capacity.
The Governor decried the state exclusion in water related benefits from the Federal Government and donor agencies, and told the participants that the creation of a designated Ministry for Water Resources, would fully integrate the state in the United Nations Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH Programme.
The new ministry, Eno also said would reposition the state to implement the existing Water Law as well as tackle other water and sanitation related issues most appropriately.
He frowned at the inability of the Ibom FADAMA Micro Finance Bank to achieve its fundamental objective of assisting farmers with credit facilities and the continuous depletion of share holders’ fund and ordered the immediate disbandment of the Management team to make way for a functional team to ensure results.
Eno who also encouraged collaborations among MDAs, explained that a situation where parastatals remain independent and not leveraging on the works of other MDAs would be discouraged to avoid waste of time and resources.
Impressed by the exceptional performance of the former Group General Manager of NNPC incharge of Crude Oil, Mrs Rose Eshiet, at the Sectoral Road Map Presentations of the Summit, the Governor announced her immediate appointment as Honorary Special Adviser on Oil and Gas.
He also announced the appointment Mrs. Ime Udoh and Mr Nkereuwem Onung as Honorary Special Advisers on Culture And Tourism, while Miss Linda Umoh was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Affairs.
