Interview of Major-General Collins Ihekire (rtd), Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority, on the holding of the 32nd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) in Yaounde .

What are the stakes of the 32nd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) holding in Yaounde?

The Yaounde conference is of very significant importance to the NBA. The 32nd ordinary session of Ministers which I can say is at the verge of our 50th anniversary will help us to discuss many topical issues. First of all, reporting back to the countries on the performances of the NBA for last year. The NBA is gradually strengthening its position as an organisation of solidarity, cooperation and sharing and we will want to consolidate this by reporting on 2013 and get the council of Ministers for next year. We also like to share with them the preparations for the 50th anniversary which in the life of a person, an institution or a country, is a significant milestone to be marked. We also want to share with them the outcome of our very successful conference in Abuja. The conference was a historic one of Parliamentarians, Focal Ministers and Ministers of Finance of member countries to see what we can do for the sustainable financing of NBA.

What would you say are the achievements of NBA in 50 years of existence?

We have executed many programmes including the construction of three new dams, rehabilitating old ones among which is Lagdo in Cameroon. We have done a lot in the silting control programme, the reclamation of degraded land and water where we have reclaimed over 38,000 hectares of land. Capacity building for member countries has also been carried out. Also in integrated water resource management, we have shared data which helps us to make policies to plan for extreme conditions of floods and draught.

What could be the possible outcome of the Yaounde conference?

We want to chart the roadmap for 2014 and continue to improve on what we have achieved. It will also determine ways and means of carrying out a noble issue we have introduced in NBA now which is the public/private partnership as an alternative way of funding the institution. Besides laying down the plan for the celebration of the 50th anniversary in 2014, we will also consolidate the payment of contribution by member countries.