The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, says the African Development Bank-assisted rural water supply and sanitation project in the North East is suffering delay owing to insurgency and other factors.
He spoke in Abuja Thursday at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
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The loans were on projects listed under the proposed 2016-2018 and 2018-2020 Medium Term (Rolling) External Borrowing Plan.
Adamu said the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) component of the programme was being financed by the $150m loan at the federal and state levels.
“The loan amounts for each of the project components are as follows: Federal Ministry of Water Resources, $5.9; Adamawa State Government, $33m, Bauchi, $29m; Borno, $38m; Gombe, $16m; Taraba, $16m, unallocated amount $12m.
He said another constraint was the lack of understanding of the AfDB’s mode of operations at the outset especially at the states.
“The insurgency in parts of Borno and Adamawa States made it difficult for service providers as well as program staff to gain access to some LGAs and communities within the two states.
“This is expected to be improved owing to recent government decision. Finally, without any doubt, the advent of COVID-19 pandemic contributes gravely in delaying implementation of the programme,” he said.
The chairman of the committee, Dayyabu Safana, commended the minister for the submission.
