By Yemi Olakitan
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has said the Federal Government is determined to bridge the gap of accessibility to potable water by Nigerians nationwide.
The Minister stated this in a message to the opening of the 13th Annual Conference of the Nigeria Association of Hydrological Sciences held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka on Monday.
The theme of the Conference and Annual General Meeting is: “Water, Environment and Society.”
Represented by the Managing Director of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Femi Odumosu, the Minister noted that the globe was experiencing unprecedented shortage of water and challenged the forum to continue research on water resources to bridge the gap between science and the people.
Utsev observed that Climate change in form of drought had greatly affected the availability of water for human consumption and other purposes.
He said: “Water is critical to live and Livelihood and critical to the economy. No meaningful development can take place in the globe without water.”
In her comment, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Mrs Folasade Ogunsola, said she was extremely glad that the society considered UNILAG as the choice venue for the event.
The VC was represented at the event by the Dean of Engineering, Prof Obanishola Sodiq who described the conference as crucial to the current happenings in the country and the world at large.
Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Association of Hydrological Sciences, Prof David Jimoh, said that multidisciplinary Association focused on advancing the knowledge of Hydrological and water resources in Nigeria.