Environment
WWD: Rivers Residents Harp On Clean Water Supply
“Water,water, everywhere, but no drop to drink”. That was a paraphrase from an 18th century poet, Samuel Toylor Coleridge in his 1798 lyrical ballad’ the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its 2016 report noted that the high demand for water will exceed its supply by 40 percent by 2030.
According to the report, many governments across the world will spend 200 billion per year on upstream supply as demand outstrips cheaper forms of supply.
Also because of the importance of water to the survival of humanity, the United Nations General Assembly in 1992 adopted. Resolution A/rcs/193 $ declared March 22 every year as World Water Day.
The first World Water Day was observed in march 1993.
Recalled that the theme for this year’s celebration was; “Ground Water: Making the Invisible Visible” and Rivers State and the rest of Nigeria were not left out in the celebration.
It would be recalled that since the inception of this Administration, enormous efforts and resources have been put in place to not only mark the day as a way of creating awareness but also provide potable drinking water to the citizenry.
The Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Mega water project is on-going and a number of local governments have been provided water by the administration.
Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr. Tomunosisi Gogo Jaja in a broadcast to mark the day said Governor Nyesom Wike’s Administration is committed to giving Rivers people potable drinking water.
According to the Commissioner, “for us in Rivers State, the New Rivers Vision Government led by His Excellency Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is making considerate effort in making this resource visible to our people.
“My dear good people of Rivers State with what Governor Nyesom Wike is doing with the Port Harcourt water supply and sanitation supply project, fresh clean and safe water shall soon be delivered to our homes.
Gogo-Jaja said the project is at various stages of completion.
“We have started reticulation in different parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
He said some rural communities are also enjoying clean potable drinking water.
The commissioner also described ground water as a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water in the world about 40 percent required for agriculture and one third of water required for industry.
“Water is an essential building block of existence, it is prime necessity for life,” the commissioner said.
Also at event to mork the day, Professor Kingdom Abam of Rivers State University said government at all levels should commit enormous resources to the water sector.
He said, this is necessary to check rampant waterborne diseases.
On his part, Odiri Macson President Water producers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) said the association has keyed into the policy of the state government in ensuring that water delivered to the public is safe.
Meanwhile, some Rivers indigenes have reacted to this celebration.
A cross section of the people who spoke to The Tide decried the high rate of water borne diseases and attributed the to bad water.
Mr Precious A. Simeon told The Tide in Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area that proliferation of boreholes in the area is contributing to the high rate of water-borne diseases.
“The disease causes vomiting weakness and stooling . We need government attention here” he said.
Also speaking Mrs. Ifeoma John said government should regulate borehole drillers to ensure standardisation with a view to making it safe for people to drink.
In her word, “water borne diseases should be prevented with equitable access to quality drinking water and good hygienic practices by the people”.
Mics Omiete Ibama said waterborne diseases will be eradicated once the citizenry imbibe good hygienic practices .
Ibama, student of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology said the issue concerning the eradication of open defecation should be token seriously.
For Master Harmony Prince, Government should expedite action on the Obio/Akpor Port Harcourt mega water project.
Prince also called for hygienic practices such as regular washing of hands after toilet and others to be imbibed by the citizenry.
Mrs Valentine Njo called on government to provide water to the people.
Although the ceremony has come and gone, the echoes still linger as citizens gathering access to quality water in some parts of the country presently is like a camel passing through the eye of needle.
Even satchet water is now out of the reach of the common man as a packet now sells at N20.00.
Even some rural communities are replete with stones of a cholera outbreak.
The clarion call is now louder than before.
By: John Bibor & Oribim Ibama
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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