By Fatima Saka
Eni, Nigerian subsidiaries, Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), Agip Energy & Natural Resources (AENR), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has commissioned 11 water schemes in Borno and Yobe States, northeast Nigeria.
Commissioned on Thursday, the public-private partnership leverages on the skills and know-how of the public and private sectors to improve access to water for the communities affected by the humanitarian crisis in the North East.
The integrated water schemes – comprised of boreholes, solar power systems, treatment facilities and fetching points – provide water for domestic consumption and irrigation purposes, were constructed under the framework of the ‘Access to Water’ initiative implemented by FAO and Eni, in collaboration with Eni’s partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
This public-private partnership leverages the skills and know-how of the public and private sectors to improve access to water for the communities affected by the humanitarian crisis in the northeast.
The FAO country representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, while stressing on the importance of the eleven facilities as they were handed over to the authorities of Borno and Yobe States said, “The solar boreholes and FAO’s larger investment in irrigation and water management is a signal of our commitment to support the government of Nigeria achieve its development goals.
“In the northeast, the availability of safe drinking water and water for agriculture is central to growth and livelihood recovery.”
The Eni’s head of sustainable development, Alberto Piatti, , said, “The handover of the water schemes is a cornerstone in the collaboration with FAO in the region that is contributing to improve the life of the communities. With the completion of the project, thousands of people will have access to clean water, which is a concrete step to enhance the overall living conditions of the inhabitants, providing them a safe source also for other uses, such as agriculture, to boost concrete social development.”
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