By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, has lauded the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project for its collaborative efforts towards improving water resource management in the state.
Hon. Lade gave the commendation when members of the ACReSAL Technical Committee paid an assessment visit to the Ministry of Water Resources in Ilorin, aimed at strengthening partnerships and gaining firsthand insight into the Ministry’s operational needs.
The Commissioner, while receiving the team, highlighted the various supports the Ministry has received under the ACReSAL initiative, particularly the donation of an operational vehicle and motorcycles, which he said have greatly improved staff mobility and accessibility to dams and waterworks, especially in remote communities.
“ACReSAL has been of very significant benefit to the Ministry and Kwara State at large. It has helped to ease the operation and efficiency of the Ministry,” Lade stated.
He, however, appealed for further intervention in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), particularly to improve the Ministry’s billing system.
According to him, having a robust ICT framework would help create a comprehensive and accurate database of water consumers across the state, thereby enhancing revenue generation and service delivery.
The Commissioner also commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for providing an enabling environment and unwavering support, which he described as pivotal to the Ministry’s achievements.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Christiana Omolola Asonibare, expressed appreciation to ACReSAL for its interventions and urged the Technical Committee to ensure timely implementation of its promises.
Earlier in his address, the Environmental Safeguarding Officer of ACReSAL in Kwara State, Mr. Abdulrahim Mohammed Abubakar, said the assessment visit was part of the project’s efforts to promote environmentally sustainable practices in government institutions.
He disclosed that the Committee is considering the upgrade of the Ministry’s conference room and offices, as well as the installation of solar energy systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators.
“We are working to reduce carbon emissions and ensure a more eco-friendly environment. What we’re doing here will also extend to other sister Ministries, Departments, and Agencies across the state,” Mr. Abubakar noted.
The ACReSAL team later embarked on a tour of the Ministry’s facilities to assess the current state of infrastructure and identify areas that require urgent attention.
