The Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Friday said it will not embark on any new project until all the abandoned projects in the ministry are completed.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Musa Ibrahim, who made the pledge at a day retreat for liaison officers of the River Basin Authority and water correspondents in Abuja, regretted that many projects started for over a decade by previous administrations, had all been abandoned.
He said when the present minister assumed office two years ago, it was agreed that instead of starting new projects as usual, he would concentrate on completing the abandoned ones.
Consequently, he said the ministry has completed and handed over the Otueke water plant in Bayelsa State to the state government as well as various dams almost on completion stage.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed satisfaction with the attention being given to National Water Bill at the National Assembly, expressing hope that the country would have a Water Law that will regulate the activities of water sector by next year.
The Permanent Secretary called on journalists to always put the nation’s interest in the forefront while discharging their duties.
Earlier, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Margaret Umoh, said the retreat was organised to refresh journalists covering the water sector and brief them on the ministry’s plan for next year.