Nigeria, Egypt sign MoU to enhance water resources management

Nigeria and Egypt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation and advance the development of water resource management programmes in Africa.

The agreement was finalised on the sidelines of the ongoing 7th Cairo Water Week in Egypt and made available in a statement on Tuesday.

The MoU was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof. Hani Sewilam.

The partnership aims to foster collaboration between the two nations in harnessing, developing, and managing water resources to benefit their populations.

Key areas outlined in the MoU include participatory irrigation development, irrigation infrastructure maintenance, and innovative mechanical and biological methods for controlling aquatic weeds.

Additionally, the agreement addresses flood management, drought forecasting, the advancement of water harvesting technologies, and technical assistance in groundwater management.

The MoU also emphasises water resource governance and security, climate change adaptation, the impacts of climate change on food security, and the restoration and protection of freshwater resources.

Both countries are committed to collaborating on water quality monitoring, focusing on bio-monitoring, and improving integrated dam and reservoir management to ensure effective operations.

In remarks following the signing, Utsev praised the MoU as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to developing its water infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

He noted that the partnership is expected to boost irrigation farming, enhance food security, increase hydropower generation, and ensure the regular maintenance of dams and reservoirs in Nigeria.

Sewilam expressed optimism that the MoU would further strengthen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Egypt, particularly in water management.

He reiterated Egypt’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with other African nations on water and climate change issues, especially during its presidency of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).

This collaboration, he said aims to tackle the continent’s water challenges and the impacts of climate change.

Sewilam stressed the need for cooperative solutions to manage shared water resources, which serve over 3 billion people globally.

He called for effective international agreements grounded in fairness, harm prevention, and mutual benefit, reiterating Egypt’s commitment to fostering collaboration in managing transboundary waters.

The Cairo Water Week 2024, themed “Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities,” underscores the crucial role of water management in addressing the escalating impacts of climate change.