Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H Adamu, has raised concerns that climate change is wreaking havoc on water’s natural cycle and greenhouse gas pollution continuous rise to all-time record levels.
He thereby called on world leaders, organisation and individual participation in combating the actions of climate change.
The minister made this call on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing the press at the commemoration ceremony of the World Water Day, with the theme: “Accelerating Change to Solve the Water and Sanitation Crisis”.
As the Ministry Of Water Resources take road shows through the streets of FCT in creating awareness on the uses of water, and sanitation, as well as to stop open defecation, and indulge citizens to use toilets.
The accomplishment of the ceremony was highlighted, with the presentation of the United Nations 2023 World Water Development Reports and commissioning of WASH facility at Junior Secondary school, Gwarinpa.
Adamu said the heating of the world’s climate is in a dangerous stage, adding that worsening is the water related disasters, disease outbreaks, water shortages and droughts, while inflicting damage to infrastructure, food production and supply chains.
He further explained that while illustrating the United Nations reports that out of every 100 people on Earth. 25 fetch all their water from open streams and ponds-or pay high prices to buy water of dubious safety.
“Twenty-two relieve themselves outdoors or use dirty, dangerous or broken latrines. And 44 see their wastewater flow back into nature untreated, with disastrous health and environmental consequences. In short,our world is dramatically-and dangerously-of track to reaching our goal of solely managed water and sanitation for all by 2030.
“Therefore,to address these issues regarding water and sanitation, it is paramount to note that the premium attached to water infrastructure in national development reflects its value in the agenda of any nation.
“Investment in water infrastructure produces significant multiplier effects on several other sectors with tremendous impact on overall national development and must be well managed by all,” he said.
In her welcome addressed, the Permanent Secretary of FMWR, Mrs Esther Idi Walson-Jack, said that the main objective of this global event is to galvanize action towards active response to water crisis and seek out innovative measures to improve access to potable water supply while achieving the targets set out in the sustainable development goal 6-Water and Sanitation for all by 2030.
The permanent secretary, who was represented by Mrs Agnes Aneke, Director, monitoring and evaluation department of water planning and support services (FMWR), explained that Water for all implies that the elderly, disabled, marginalized and poor people get access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6.1 and 6.2. Whoever you are, wherever you are, you have the right to water.
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“The UN recognizes access to water as a human right which entitles everyone without discrimination to sufficient, safe, acceptable and affordable water for personal and domestic uses: which include water for drinking, sanitation, food preparation, personal and household hygiene, among others.
The permanent secretary further emphasized that the slogan for WWD is “To a Thirsty man, a drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold”. Thousands lived without Love, but not without water. Water. Water doesn’t have an enemy!
“Water is the lifeblood of our world. From health and nutrition to education and infrastructure, water is vital to every aspect of human survival and well-being, and the economic development and prosperity of every nation.
“But drop by drop, this precious lifeblood is being poisoned by pollution and drained by vampiric overuse, with water demand expected to exceed supply by 40 per cent by decade’s end,” she added.
in his goodwill messages, Mr. Fred Kafeero, FAO Country Representative, said freshwater must be central to the agenda, adding that over 700 million people in the world face high and critical water stress and over 90 percent of natural disasters are water related.
He lamented that the situation is worsening and global water availability, quality are deteriorating, saying that climate change is intensifying, and raising competition between sectors and countries is increasing.
The FAO representatives expressed that Agriculture currently accounts for 72 percent of freshwater withdrawals on current trends, “an additional 35 per cent in water resources will be needed by 2050 to meet growing demand for food, fibre and food”.
“This is hugely worrying for efforts to end hunger and poverty, because there can be no food and agriculture, and the livelihoods it supports, without clean and sufficient water-for irrigation of crops, for livestock, and for the many species that live in aquatic ecosystems Agriculture including forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, also plays a crucial role in the management of surface water, ground water recharge and even cutation of atmospheric water,” he stated.
Also, in his remarks, Mr. Clifford Offorbuike, Managing Director/ CEO FORDMAX Nig Limited, said in Nigeria with water everywhere but none for drinking yet, adding that the significance of water in health, sanitation, food production and security, economic development, among others can be overemphasized.
He further stated that Nigeria’s population has been projected to grow from its 2020 estimate of 206 Million to 263 Million people in 2030, and a massive 733 Million by 2050, when it is expected to remain the most populous country in Africa, and the 7 in the world!
“These frightening statistics, coupled with lack of strategic plans to grapple with its incidents, make our people so vulnerable, nor only to water shortages but also hunger and poverty.
“With an expected increase in rural to urban migration, ravaging effects of climate change, and others, Nigeria cannot but exploit the full opportunities that this Day furnishes her now; because to fail to do so is to hand over our future to uncertainty Just as the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently identified water crisis as one of the greatest risks to global economic growth, it is estimated that even those countries, such as Nigeria, that still bout of some water availability, even if unevenly distributed, such water remain largely unsafe for both drinking and industrial use.
“The challenge of this Forum therefore centres around the theme of this Day. How can we achieve a nation-wide sustainable supply of affordable potable water for citizens of Nigeria, fast enough, and with a green technological process?” he said.
