The Federal Government has called on all relevant stakeholders in the water sector to redouble efforts at supporting initiatives that enhance Nigeria’s water security.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the called during a Press Conference organised by the Ministry on Saturday to commemorate this year’s World Water Day.
The World Water Day is a United Nations (UN) day organised annually on March 22, with the focus on raising awareness of the importance of safe and clean water across the world.
This year’s World Water Day theme, “Glacier Preservation” highlights the urgent need to protect glaciers, as their rapid melting threatens water security, ecosystems and livelihoods, requiring collective global and local action.
Nigeria faces significant water challenges, including widespread water scarcity, poor water quality due to pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and inequitable access, particularly in rural areas, impacting public health and livelihoods.
Millions lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities, with the World Bank estimating that 70 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water.
To address these challenges, the Minister said, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has introduced initiatives like the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (PEWASH), The National Action Plan for Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and The Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program (SURWASH) to ensure equitable and sustainable access to water across the country.
Prof. Utsev said the Ministry through the projects have been able to provide basic drinking water services to 6 million people; offer improved sanitation services to 1.4 million individuals; enhance WASH facilities in 2,000 schools and healthcare centers; and support 500 communities in achieving open defecation-free status.
He said the Ministry has also created a roadmap for the responsible management of water resources through the development and implementation of the National Water Resources Policy to balance the needs of agriculture, industry, domestic use, and environment.
Stating that vital role has been played in the successful implementation of water governance reforms to ensure that water management aligns with global best practices.
Speaking on glacier preservation as the theme for this year’s celebration, the Minister said that glaciers provide nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater supply, and their rapid loss could have devastating effects on global water systems.
He said even though Nigeria does not have glaciers, and they may seem distant from Nigeria’s immediate water challenges, their preservation is still crucial for the global climate system, noting that the rapid melting of nature’s crystal giants has contributed to extreme weather events globally, and nations far from glacier regions, like Nigeria, are not immune to these cascading effects.
“The loss of glaciers contributes to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions in freshwater availability-issues that have direct consequences for Nigeria, including increased flooding, droughts, and shifts in agricultural productivity,” he said.
Earlier, in his Opening Remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, said water is both global and local resource that requires thoughtful management.
He therefore, called for stakeholders’ collaboration to create awareness for better water management practices in the country.
On her part, UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr. Jane Bevan, said the impact of climate change is affecting Nigeria, and UNICEF has been supporting, through the Ministry’s initiatives to respond to the issues.
She pledges continuous support for the country, especially, by strengthening the natives to able to respond to the effects of climate change.
The high point of the event was the launch of the Climate Resilient Water Safety Plan Guidelines, and Revised Technical Designs for WASH Facilities.
