By Tosin Kolade

The Federal Government has pledged to implement the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principle to improve the quality and quantity of the nations’ surface and groundwater resources.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said this in a news conference in commemoration of the 2023 World Rivers Day in Abuja on Monday.

Utsev said the IWRM principle ensures sustainable management of available water resources for the present and future needs of the people.

He said it would facilitate better water management in actualising and harnessing of both surface and groundwater to support the nation’s socio-economic growth.

According to him, the negative impacts of climate change on ecosystems and water resources has become imperative to urgently develop appropriate strategies for efficient management of scarce water resources.

Utsev said in spite of government’s efforts to improve potable water supply to all Nigerians, the national access to water supply is still about 67 per cent, which is below the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 100 per cent by 2030.  

The dismal coverage, he said was attributable to a variety of factors, such as under-utilisation of impounded water in the dam reservoirs, inadequate funding and low private sector investment in the sector.

“You will also agree with me that the prevailing extreme climate events such as flooding and drought are already having some serious adverse effects on the nation.

“Some of the obvious effects of climate change include the drying up of water bodies such as the Lake Chad, River Gongola and River Kaduna in Nigeria are gradually changing from perennial to seasonal.

“Over abstraction of groundwater with evidence of groundwater mining in Borno, Yobe and other states; Reduction in the operational capacities of major dams in the country such as Kanji and Shiroro Dams.

“Degradation in the quality of available fresh water, Flooding, Degradation of aquatic life, Ravaging poverty, Incessant conflicts over access to water among others,” he said.

The minister said to address some of these issues, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had constructed 260 dams across the country.

He said the Ministry has also impounded nearly 70 Billion Cubic Meters of bulk water in dam reservoirs for multipurpose uses in water supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower generation and others.

He however urged all Nigerians to be advocates in saving the nations rivers, saying indiscriminate dumping of toxic products, wastes and plastics, should be stopped.

He said there was the need to engender best practices in catchment management to safeguard river basins in order to protect the dam reservoirs from the rising challenge of Siltation.

Utsev, however, pledged to build the capacity of its professionals responsible for river monitoring and management to diligently carry out their duties efficiently, saying this would institutionalise best practices in water management.

Dr Didi Walson-Jack, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said many rivers are facing severe and increasing threats associated with climate change, pollution, urbanisation, population growth and industrial development.

This, she noted are the reasons why efforts are needed to be scaled up towards river remediation, protection and conservation for the present and future generations.

“Please, permit me to emphasise the need for us as river advocates, to synergise and collectively ramp up effort towards protecting our rivers, because it is the major source of fresh water for life sustenance,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Victor Orjiakor, Representative of the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, said the commission would key into programs that promote sustainable health of all rivers.

He said the commission had developed the Water Source Protection Policy and conducted studies on river health assessment of River Kaduna and others.

Mr Stephen Jabo, representing the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, noted the importance of rivers for livelihood, transportation, agricultural production and animals.

He said the agency would continue to provide veritable hydrological data and information necessary for the protection and development of the nation’s river courses.

“There are many things you can do to protect rivers, such as reducing water consumption, planting trees along river banks, avoiding pesticides and herbicides,” he said.

Highlight of the event was the ceremonial tree planting at the riverbank and cleaning of the Jabi Lake.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the World Rivers Day highlights the importance of rivers and raises awareness and encourage people to preserve them.

The 2023 theme is: ‘The Incredible Natural, Cultural and Re-Creational Values of Rivers, Lakes and Streams in our Communities’. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Tosin Kolade

The African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) on Monday called on African countries to strengthen systems that would improve access to sanitation services for the people sustainably.

AMCOW’s Executive Secretary, Dr Rashid Mbaziira, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The executive secretary said AMCOW would continue to promote the implementation and utilisation of the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG) in member countries.

He said the ASPG was formulated using standards from global best practices, saying it’s adoption would ensure safely managed sanitation services for the populace.

He said Nigeria had been a major partner in AMCOW’s activities, saying more efforts were needed to close the huge sanitation gaps in the country.

Mbaziira noted the crucial importance of having a functioning system and stakeholders’ partnership, saying this would strengthen enabling environment for scaling up sanitation and hygiene services.

He said having a stand-alone sanitation and hygiene policy in the country was important and should be encouraged by all, adding that AMCOW would continue to work to see its acceptance.

“It would be a huge achievement for us if our host country Nigeria is utilising the ASPG being developed by a body that it has supported to such a great length, to also strengthen the enabling environment for sanitation and hygiene services provision.

“So for us, it’s one of those things that we really are very keen to see take place, and we would like to render or contribute in any way we can to see to it that there is a sanitation and hygiene policy, whether stand-alone or contributing to other sectors.

“One that can enable the achievement of safely-managed sanitation for Nigeria, and for Nigerians, so it’s something that we are passionate about, and if we can promote it, by all means, appropriate, we should be able to do that”.

He said aligning sanitation policies in African countries in line with the ASPG would give it a legal backing for prioritisation and institutionalisation for continuity.

“So, now, the linkage to that is that we are recognising the global commitments that we have on SDG six or anything, we are recognising the Ngor commitments as we spoke about, those are continental commitments.

“And we are also recognising the cultural elements that are associated with some of the practices that we do, the norms that we have, and now putting them together in this group may have things and we’re saying that these are the elements, If your sanitation policy follows these elements, it should be able to assure safely managed sanitation in the African context”.

He congratulated the appointment of the two ministers in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, saying their efforts to scale up hygiene practices was laudable and should be recognised by all.

He said AMCOW would continue to support their mission and mandate towards improving the water resources and sanitation sector of the country, saying the partnership was not only in Nigeria but at the continental level.

He said Nigeria’s position as the only permanent member of AMCOW’s Executive Committee recognised the country’s role in leadership of the organisation, adding that it ensured continuity and alignment of goals in a sustainable manner.

The executive secretary said the upcoming 7th Africa Sanitation and Hygiene conference (AfricaSan7) in  Swakopmund, Namibia, was an opportunity to call all actors to action and a reflection in seeking options for safely managed sanitation services.

He said the AfricaSan7 was initiated to provide a platform for technical and political dialogue with governments and stakeholders to identify and share knowledge to address the sanitation and hygiene challenges in Africa.

“And of course, we also have to appreciate that a lot is going on, maybe not as appreciated as it should be, and we need to put that positive narrative out as well, Not everything on sanitation and hygiene in Africa is bad.

“But maybe sometimes this is lost in certain messages, we need to get that message clearly that a lot is being done by our partners or investors, we need to celebrate that.

“And that should give us the impetus to also look into the things that are challenging for us to be able to do now and find the solutions that are working elsewhere that can be adapted to different circumstances in order to achieve the greater goal”.

Mbaziira said there was need to look at the upcoming AfricaSan7 as a moment of reflection and call to action to track progress for meeting the sustainable development goals six.

He stressed that the conference will facilitate the assessment of progress by member states in meeting their sanitation and hygiene commitments, as outlined in the 2023 AfricaSan Ngor report.

He however welcomed all intending participants to enjoy the beautiful city of Swakopmund, saying it would be an opportunity to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

NAN reports that the AfricaSan7 Conference, billed to hold from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11 in Swakopmund, Namibia.

The theme of the AfricaSan7 is :” ‘Strengthening Systems and Partnerships for Accelerated Action on Safely Managed Sanitation and Hygiene’. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza