Stakeholders in the water subsector have advocated concerted efforts to protect, conserve and restore waterways and river systems in South-East communities from all forms of pollution and degradation.
The stakeholders made the call on Monday in Owerri at the commemoration of this year’s World Rivers Day with the theme “Waterways in our communities”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, in collaboration with the Imo State Water and Sewage Corporation.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, Mr Gerald Osuagwu, said the celebration was intended to highlight human activities that were degrading the rivers.
Osuagwu decried the increasing pressures associated with pollution, industrial development, urbanisation and climate change which were affecting rivers.
“Our river system in Nigeria, especially in Imo, is being degraded, polluted and there is the need for restoration through proper environmental practices.
“People must stop open defecation, dumping of refuse into drainages and dumping of agricultural and industrial chemicals into our rivers,” he said.
Osuagwu also called on government at all levels to create enabling environment such as proper sewage channeling and garbage collection to secure the rivers from degradation.
Also speaking, Mr Emeka Ugoanyanwu, the General Manager, Imo State Water and Sewage Corporation, said urbanisation, street trading, sand mining and increasing human population have caused tremendous damage to most rivers.