Environment
World Water Day: Stakeholders Demand Revival Of Water Sources
Water sector stakeholders have expressed displeasure over lack of sources of potable water, calling on governments and private sectors to collaborate to revive major sources of water across the country.
They made the call at a stakeholders forum organised by Water Aid, an international organisation as part of activities to mark the 2019 World Water Day.
March 22 is set aside annually to celebrate the occasion.
The theme for 2019 celebration is “Leaving No One Behind”.
Dr Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, the Country Director, WaterAid, appealed to government at all levels to revive dams and other major sources of water across the country.
According to Aniagolu-Okoye, most of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related challenges in the country could be curbed, if there were adequate WASH facilities.
“It is embarrassing to Nigeria that in 21st Century, we have Lassas fever, we have cholera, dysentery, things that can be very easily to eliminate with adequate WASH facilities.
“It is fantastic that the Federal Government had declared State of Emergency in WASH sector, it is also fantastic that we have National Action Plan.
“But these need to be really put into action and to take it down to the state level for action because this is where majority of Nigerians are living, ” she said.
While appreciating the Federal Government in its efforts, the WaterAid official tasked state governments to be proactive in WASH sector as it had been doing.
She also advised that old water projects and infrastructure be maintained, quoting the World Bank as saying, “40 per cent of all the water projects in Nigeria break down in the first one year.
“That is huge, we need to move from providing new facilities to maintaining the old ones, it is time for us not to talk about problems, but to find solutions to WASH issues.
Mrs Oluwatoyin Saraki, the Founder/President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WFA), stressed the need for private sector partnership with the governments, saying government alone could not make provision of WASH to all citizens.
Saraki said that WFA was always advocating partnering with governments at all levels to reach out to the rural areas in particular.
“Private sectors have established structures to doing their business which can be deployed when you want to achieve a community goal.
“At WFA, we launched WASH campaign in 2018 because of the overwhelming evidence from our frontline healthcare programmes that we have to retrace our steps.
“We have noted that WASH indices in Nigeria were not only poor, but were worsening in many instances, ” she said.
According to her, the foundation is aimed to reach out to two million Nigerian children with hand washing and soap techniques in one year to curb water related sicknesses affecting vulnerable children.
Mr Chime Asonye, the Partnership and Engagement Manager, Partnership Initiatives In Niger Delta, an NGO, emphasised the need for the private sector to assist the rural communities in providing WASH facilities to cushion the plight of the rural areas.
“This is one of the major reasons we are partnering WaterAid to ensure that those in Niger Delta region have access to clean water having seen their plight due to environmental challenges within the region,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.