The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Hungary in the area of water resources management.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated this when the Hungarian ambassador to Nigeria, Loránd Endreffy, paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja.

The envoy was accompanied by Judit Beres, the economic counsellor of the Embassy of Hungary.

Mr Utsev stressed the need for proper coordination and thorough documentation to ensure seamless collaboration between the two countries.

He directed that all necessary documents be submitted to fast-track the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He further assured that the managing directors of water resources and sanitation agencies, as well as relevant directors of the ministry, would fully participate in the Nigerian–Hungarian Water Forum scheduled for November 4 in Abuja.

Earlier, Mr Endreffy said the forum would bring together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s water sector and Hungarian companies with expertise in water engineering and treatment technologies.

He said the event would feature high-level presentations on Nigeria’s water-related challenges and showcase innovative Hungarian solutions through case studies and technical sessions.

According to him, key themes include water security, capacity building, flood risk management, river training, rural water supply, and climate resilience.

He said highlights of the forum would include a technical presentation on the Niger River Training and Flood Control Scheme.

It will also feature the signing of a new MoU between the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

The forum may further witness the renewal of the existing Nigeria–Hungary MoU on water management.

(NAN)