ASABA/Nigeria: Stakeholders in the water sector have lauded the draft document for water project implementation in the Delta State.
The commendation was made at the final zero draft presentation workshops on guidelines for water project implementation held at Benizia Hotel, Asaba, over the weekend.
Stakeholders were unanimous in agreeing that the draft document captured current practices of the Ministry of Water Resources Development and went further to improve on them.
They called for wide spread representation of interest groups, particularly in the area of gender equity and equality.
The stakeholders who were drawn from line ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) advocated inter-ministerial synergy in water project implementation, stressing however that the document should clearly state the entry point for all non-governmental organizations in the initiation and implementation of water projects.
Earlier, while declaring the workshop open, the State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Sir Fidelis Tilije, charged staff of the ministry to change from what he described as nonchalant attitude, adding that they should not be a clog in the wheel of progress.
Sir Tilije implored the workshop participants to take the exercise seriously, saying that the workshop would be effectively and functionally meaningful when it came up with appropriate road maps for project implementation.
In an address of welcome, the permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Felicia Adun, commended the committee and the European Union (EU) team for their commitment in the production of a final draft document.
