The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe has called for closer collaboration between the three tiers of government in the provision of water to the teeming Nigerian population.

Speaking at the office of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed on Tuesday 13th November, 2012, Mrs Ochekpe said that the Ministry is ever ready to cooperate, collaborate and support State Government in providing water for the people.

"No tier of government can do it alone, but with the collaboration of the three, we can achieve our MDG targets in 2015", she said.

While acknowledging the effort of the kwara State Government in ensuring adequate water supply to the populace, the Minister commended Governor Ahmed's acceptance to host the 3rd National Water Conference which he later declared open.

In his response, the Executive Governor acknowledged the proactive leadership of the Hon. Minister which is already impacting positively to the people of Kwara State

He said his administration was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to accelerate access to potable water by his people.

He therefore urged for a platform to fine-tune the participation of states in the execution of Federal Government's water projects, as part of the collaboration between the three tiers of government.

He noted that his State depended largely on Agriculture and therefore called on the Minister to increase support to the State in the area of irrigation to enable farmers practice irrigated Agriculture

Boade Akinola ( Mrs.)

Head, Press & public Unit