The Nigerien government will invest 29 billion CFA francs in the year 2010 for the construction and rehabilitation of hydraulic structures, and further studies on improving the quality and installation of new units of water management as well, official sources told APA on Saturday.
“It is expected in terms of knowledge and management of water resources, the completion of the shim of the mathematical model of aquifer management system of Lullemeden, and sub-regional cooperation in the field of shared water management,” Nigerien Water Resources Minister, Moumouni Kogo was quoted Saturday by official media as saying.
The water programming in the year 2010 involves the achievement of 2,394 equivalents of modern water points and rehabilitation of 623 others, he said.
Similarly, Minister Kogo added, it is planned that the construction of 30,360 household latrines and 369 school and public latrines, with the aim to achieve by 2015 a coverage rate of the population’s water needs to the tune of 80% in rural areas and coverage rate of water of 82.5% in urban areas.
Regarding the basic water-related sanitation component, the Water Resources Minister noted that 11,000 family latrines of the planned 22,342 have been constructed in 2009, while the average achievements of the period 1994-2008 was pegged at 5,000.
In addition, 302 school and public latrines of the 326 planned have been put up, i.e. an implementation rate of 93%.
Niger has as of 31 December 2008 from 29,388 equivalent modern water points, including 14,741 cemented wells, 9512 wells fitted with hand pumps, 511 mini-water supply points, 79 water points and 81 autonomous pastoral pumping stations, it is said.
The rate of coverage of drinking water needs is 62.19%, according to Minister Kogo, 18 points lower as compared to 80% which is the target of achieving the MDGs by 2015.
The Nigerien government has embarked since 2001 on an institutional reform program that promoted the mobilization of investments to the tune of 57 billion CFA francs in the water sector.
Source African Press Agency
