NIGERIA – Eni Energy, an Italian multinational oil and gas company has partnered Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to have commissioned 11 water schemes in Borno and Yobe States, North-East Nigeria.
The Italian company has been represented in the agreement by its Nigerian subsidiaries Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE) and Agip Energy & Natural Resources (AENR).
The integrated water schemes, comprising of boreholes, solar power systems, treatment facilities, and fetching points, provide water for domestic consumption and irrigation purposes.
The facilities have been 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 North East.
“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,” said Fred Kafeero, FAO Country Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS.
“In the northeast, the availability of safe drinking water and water for agriculture is central to growth and livelihood recovery.”
The water wells, powered with photovoltaic systems, were completed between 2018 and 2020 in various communities located in selected Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe.
The official commissioning and handover of the water schemes could not be held until now due to the volatile situation of the area.
Since 2018, Eni and FAO have implemented a total of 22 water well projects under the framework of this Access to Water initiative: 5 in Abuja Federal Capital Territory and 17 in North-East Nigeria, notably in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Overall, the initiative has contributed to improving sanitation and restoring the livelihoods of about 67,000 people, including internally displaced people and their host communities.
The first water well, providing water for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community in Waru, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was commissioned in November 2018, and the remaining 4 water schemes in FCT were commissioned in November 2019.
One of the five water schemes located in Borno State (Bama LGA) was commissioned in June 2019, while five located in Adamawa State were commissioned in October 2021.
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