By Gabriel Ewepu, Abuja

AS food prices remain unabated, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, has called for upscaled funding to boost the nation’s food security architecture.

The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev FNSE FNICE, FNIWE, has called for a surge in funding to fortify food security across the nation.

Utsev made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the incoming Country Director of the World Bank to Nigeria, Ndiame Diop, along with his team to the Minister in his office at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Basically, the Minister pointed out the paramount importance of allocating resources towards food security, which he underscored the impact and potential it has to spur employment opportunities and curtail criminal activities nationwide.

He stressed the necessity of fostering a robust partnership between the World Bank and the Ministry to effectively pursue the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, therefore, expressed optimism of the Ministry’s anticipation of accessing additional funding from the World Bank to facilitate the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria, SPIN, and maintained that the project would not only create job opportunities for youths but also bolster power generation, economic growth and food security.

Meanwhile, the Minister in his remarks acknowledged the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, and commended him for his dogged service, and extended gratitude and best wishes for his future endeavors.

He also gave encouragement and pledged support to the incoming Director of the World Bank, Ndiame Diop, for a fruitful tenure ahead in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Alh. Aliyu Shehu Shinkafi, FCNA, emphasized the imperative of streamlining administrative processes within the World Bank to expedite fund disbursement for project projects execution.

In response, the incoming World Bank Country Director, Ndiame Diop, expressed eagerness for a strengthened partnership and continued collaboration with the Ministry.

Diop also stressed the significance of sustained financial support for the Ministry’s projects and programmes.

Meanwhile , the outgoing World Bank Country Director in Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, expressed gratitude to Nigeria and the Ministry for their exemplary partnership.

Chaudhuri also lauded Nigeria’s strides in the water and sanitation sector and assured continued support from the incoming Director to further advance the nation’s development goals.