By Fatima Saka
Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu has said it is in government priority to make Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a Model of Open Defecation free, for the rest of the country as the ministry works ahead of 2025.
The minister made this statement on Monday in Abuja, at the commemoration ceremony, as the Federal Ministry of water resources in collaboration with Regional Center for Integrated River Basin Management (RC-IRBM) under the auspices of UNESCO II, Kaduna, Commemorate 2022 World Rivers Day in gracing Jabi Lake as symbolic of nature of water, “Right of River”.
With the theme: ” the incredible natural, cultural and recreational values of rivers, lakes and streams in our communities”.
Speaking on, Adamu said that the new approach is the ministry’s engagement with ALGON (Association of Local Government of Nigeria), also to engage the citizens with National Orientation Agency in shaping the minds of people, adding that open defecation in FCT is going to be a thing of the past because is a private sector driven.
Therefore, the minister stated that the nation’s waterways come under focus in order to highlight the rights of the rivers and by increasing public awareness on the importance of heavy and varied waterways, along with many threats of fronting it.
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Adamu however emphasized on this year’s theme, the incredible natural, cultural recreational values of rivers, lakes and streams in our communities, to give attention to the protection of rivers across the country, as well as striving to restore those that have been damaged in the past.
Engr. Adamu however said the essence of the global events is to generalize action towards effective response to the different threats to rivers, adding that location is also intended to seek innovative ways of improving the quality of lower river waters, maintain a healthy environment for aquatic lives, as well as ensure efficient hydrologic connectivity.
“The importance of this event can not be over emphasized given the benefits of rivers to socio economic life and well being of all nations globally. As we know, rivers fly water nutrients to different parts of the earth for the sustenance of living organisms, while also acting as drainage channels for surface run surface runoff water report has it that rivers drainage was 75% of the land surface.
“There by providing transportation, source of energy, and fertile soil for farming. In addition, rivers play a significant role in the water cycle, especially the formation of rain. Apart from the supply of food in the form of nutrients, rivers also provide habitat for aquatic plants and animals.
The minister further quoted that according to WaterAid,”More than 100,000 children under the age of five they each year due to diarrhea, which 90% is directly attributable to receive water sanitation. Adding that the ministry has embarked on a number of initiatives towards attaining the vision for increasing access to safe sufficient water for sanitation, cultural, social, environmental, and economic development needs of the nation in an integrated and sustainable manner.
“the rivers play a very key role in the economic survival of any nation in Nigeria events are celebrated and then soft theme right of rivers within the context of the incredible Metro cultural and recreational values of rivers, lakes and streams in our communities, to grow, focus on the threats of rivers, their rights to existence, as well as right to restoration,” he stated.
Also, in her welcome addressed, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary of Water Resources said the World Rivers Day is important to be by the lake, adding that it was reminiscent of last year’s ceremony and that the theme was to save the Jabi lake.
“Today we have gathered by the side of the lake to commemorate the events. And I would like to let you know that today’s event is a special one and would include tree planting.
” Today is to focus on rivers, world over. We do know that rivers are so important. They’re important means of livelihood. They’re important means of sustenance, especially for the people who live around them. And so it is on this note, I wish to welcome you all once more to the world. Rivers day, she added.
Also, Goodwill messages were given, by the Chief of section, Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters, Paris, Prof Rahmah Elfithri, and the Representatives of Federal Ministry of Environment, said that with the same rights of rivers, that means giving more attention to the rivers on how to protect and take care of the river, adding that rivers have the right to be conserved to improve water quality and to be used by the dwellers.
“We need River and this kind of celebration is a good day or a good moment. To enhance the awareness related to rivers because Jabi Lake is also part of the river basin. So that’s why we need to take care of the lake as a part of rivers, and by conserving the rivers, we will also conserve our environment for our Mother Nature,” she added.
