The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring all subprojects being implemented by participating states comply with the international best practices on the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (SURWASH) environmental and social safeguards.
This was the position of the SURWASH Programme, a World Bank-assisted programme when officials of the Federal Programme Implementation Unit (FPIU) embarked on a two-day safeguards technical Support Mission to Delta State on programme implementation.
According to the Team Lead, Yaknan Mamdam, Environmental Safeguard Officer, Federal Programme Implementation Unit, SURWASH, Abuja, the purpose of the visit was to understand first-hand, environmental and social (E&S) challenges encountered during implementation especially those related to compliance sub-projects, engage with implementing agencies and also prepare for broader E&S training as agreed during previous missions.”
He posited that environmental and social safeguards are crucial in developmental activities to ensure that projects are sustainable, inclusive, and minimize adverse impacts.
“In the cause of bringing development to the communities such as provision of potable water for residents, we are not to create problems that might erode the intended benefits,” he said.
Mamdam said that salient points from the mission will be used to prepare a brief guidance note that will help ensure the effective and timely integration of Environmental and Social aspects into project implementation.
On her part, the Social Safeguards Officer, Federal Programme Implementation Unit, SURWASH, Abuja, Mrs. Uche Iwuala emphasized the need for proper community engagement as this will go a long way to enhance community ownership of government projects and also reduce conflicts among various stakeholders.
During the visit, the team first had an interactive session with the General Managers, Environment, and Social safeguard officers in the Implementing Agencies (IAs), and the same officers in the State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU) after which they all visited the subproject sites where they held field-level interactions with the officers.
The three subproject sites inspected during the visit included the Rehabilitation and Improvement of the Cluster Water Supply Scheme in Igbe-Ogume, Ogbe-Ogume and Ogbeole-Ogume town in Ndokwa West LGA; the rehabilitation and improvement of the Water Supply Scheme in Bethel Town, Isoko North LGA being implemented by the Delta State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and Improvement/Rehabilitation of Kwale Water Supply Scheme, Kwale, Ndokwa West LGA being implemented by the Delta State Urban Water Corporation.
Environmental and social safeguards are essential for sustainable water management in Nigeria. By implementing these safeguards, Delta State and Nigeria as a whole can ensure safe water access, environmental protection, and social inclusion while preventing conflicts and resource depletion.
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