Environment

WWD: Rivers Residents Harp On Clean Water Supply

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

“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

Environment

WDC: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Odu Call Inclusion Of Woman And Girls Decision Making

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for greater inclusion of women and girls in decision-making processes across all sectors, stressing that amplifying their voices is critical to national development.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. (Mrs.) Ngozi Nma Odu (Right), Launching the CIFAL Nigeria’s Voices of Experiences during the Mentoring the Next Generation and Joint Commemoration of UN International Women’s Day and World Water Day at the Rivers State University Complex,

She made the call during the launch of the “Voices of Experience” mentorship programme and the joint commemoration of the International Women’s Day and World Water Day at Rivers State University on Tuesday.

Odu underscored the burdens borne by women, particularly in rural communities, where they play central roles in water sourcing and food production. She reaffirmed support for initiatives that promote gender advocacy, noting that women’s lived realities must inform policies.

She also stressed the need to sustain the 30 per cent affirmative action for women’s inclusion, urging women to emulate pioneers such as Margaret Ekpo and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who championed women’s rights in Nigeria’s past.

Drawing from local experience, Odu recounted how women in Egi community mobilised to demand change by peacefully protesting at an oil facility, demonstrating the power of collective action.

She further advocated partnerships with CIFAL Nigeria and UNITAR to deepen mentorship for young people, noting that such collaborations are essential for building inclusive governance and transferring values to future generations.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Isaac Zeb-Obipi, emphasised the need to recognise women’s contributions globally, particularly in water management. He called for increased investment in women’s education and empowerment to ensure access to clean water.

Zeb-Obipi also pledged to align the institution’s academic and research activities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while commending CIFAL Nigeria for its innovative programmes.

In her keynote address titled Inclusive Leadership: Building Institutions that Reflect All Voices, former Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, lamented declining female political representation. She noted that women’s participation, which rose from 1.8 per cent in 1999 to about 8 per cent in 2007, has dropped to roughly 4 per cent.

According to her, the issue is not participation but systemic exclusion, describing it as “a justice problem.” She also decried barriers facing youths and persons with disabilities, including limited access to leadership opportunities and inclusive education systems.

Director of CIFAL Nigeria, Ihuoma Njemanze, said the centre aims to bridge generational gaps by engaging young people—particularly digital natives—in conversations on women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

She disclosed plans to create platforms for dialogue, global exchanges and capacity-building initiatives aligned with UN goals.

Also speaking, Herritta Ogan identified cultural and institutional barriers as persistent obstacles to women’s advancement, while highlighting weak mentorship among women as a critical gap.

The event featured mentorship sessions, panel discussions and award presentations, reinforcing calls for inclusive leadership and sustained advocacy for gender equality.

Environment

FG Alls For stronger Partnerships, Women Inclusion In Water Governance

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has called for stronger collaborations and increased participation of women in water governance to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation nationwide.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call at a news conference to commemorate the 2026 World Water Day.

He said the day, instituted by the United Nations, highlights the importance of freshwater and promotes sustainable management of water resources globally.

Utsev noted that the theme, “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” underscores the link between water access, sanitation and gender equality, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 6.

The minister stressed that inclusive governance and women’s participation are essential for sustainable development and national growth.

Utsev said the ministry had constructed and rehabilitated over 6,700 water schemes, providing safe drinking water to more than 32 million Nigerians.

“Rural interventions have benefited over two million people, while about 500 additional projects were implemented across Benue, Jigawa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Ogun, and Niger states.

According to the minister, the ministry has completed two National Water Quality Reference Laboratories in Asaba and Umuahia to enhance monitoring and protect public health.

“The Dadin Kowa irrigation scheme delivered 2,000 hectares of land to farmers, including women, while micro-irrigation projects were completed in Jigawa, Oyo, and Kwara, with additional schemes underway in Kebbi,” Utsev said.

“Other dams recording progress include Mangu, Adada, and Ogbesse, while Alau Dam in Borno is being strengthened to improve flood control and water supply to Maiduguri,” he added.

The minister said the National Water Resources Institute had trained over 1,500 youths in plumbing, drilling, and water technology, while 24 water-use licences were issued to ensure equitable allocation of resources.

He noted that River Basin Development Authorities had developed over 154,000 hectares of irrigable land, benefiting more than 1.6 million farmers.

Utsev reaffirmed government’s commitment to inclusive water access and dignified sanitation, urging all stakeholders to collaborate to ensure no one is left behind.

“Water must become a force for equality, empowerment, and sustainable development,” he said, commending development partners, state governments, civil society organisations, and traditional institutions for their support.

He stressed that sustained investment, stronger coordination across federal, state, and local levels, and political will are key priorities, with women’s meaningful participation in planning and decision-making central to success.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Emanso Umobong, said World Water Day highlights the critical link between water and gender, noting that access to safe water directly affects women’s health, education, and economic empowerment.

Umobong was represented by Dr Adebiyi Tajudeen, Director, Finance and Accounts Department in the ministry.

She said gender-responsive water systems are essential to equitable and inclusive societies, and thanked development partners, civil society, and the diplomatic community for their support.

Umobong added that advancing water and sanitation is a direct pathway to achieving SDG 6 and SDG 5, emphasising that gender-inclusive governance strengthens system sustainability and resilience.

She outlined strategies including gender-responsive planning, targeted financing for schools and health facilities, robust data systems, and partnerships promoting women’s leadership at all levels.

“World Water Day is not merely ceremonial; it is a global call to action,” she said, urging stakeholders to amplify the message: “When water flows, equality grows”.

She added that tangible projects demonstrate the impact of gender-responsive water governance, citing functioning schools, operational clinics, thriving markets, and resilient communities.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of the 2026 UN World Water Development Report, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities, by Dr Enang Momah from UNESCO.

The report said gender inequalities undermine global water security, disproportionately affecting women and girls, who, in spite of managing household water, remain underrepresented in governance and technical roles.

“Unequal access also affects health, education, livelihoods, and safety, currently, 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, with women and girls spending 250 million hours daily collecting it”.

The report warned that climate change, water scarcity, and disasters worsen these inequalities, calling for stronger action to ensure equal rights, participation, and opportunities in water management.

The Tide source reports that a sensitisation and awareness campaign was held at the Lugbe axis to promote safe water use, especially among vulnerable populations.

The event also featured the distribution of sanitary products to women and girls, as well as the presentation of trophies to winners of the hygiene video skit competition.

Environment

Environmentalists Raise Alarm As World Loses 10m

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, on Thursday raised concerns over accelerating global deforestation, revealing that an estimated 10 million hectares of forests are lost every year.

Ezemonye raised the concern during activities marking the International Day of Forests at the university in Edo.

According to him, the level of deforestation poses far-reaching environmental and socio-economic threats.

Ezemonye said that Nigeria was not insulated from the trend, citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation which ranked the country among those with the highest deforestation rates in Africa.

“The consequences of this loss are grave,” he said, pointing to rising cases of flooding, desertification, ecosystem collapse, displacement of communities and the worsening impacts of climate change.

Describing the annual observance as more than ceremonial, Ezemonye said it should serve as a rallying point for urgent action.

He added that universities must play a central role as “custodians of knowledge and incubators of solutions.”

The V-C reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability, emphasising that it remained a core institutional value beyond academic discourse.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Victor Otamere, said “protecting the forests is protecting our lives.”

Adams said that the state government had taken steps to safeguard forest resources, including the establishment of the Edo Forestry Commission.

The Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Mr Valentine Asuen, represented by Area Forest Officer for Ovia North East, Mrs Joan Omosigho, acknowledged the mounting pressure on forest resources and urged Nigerians to take responsibility for its protection.

Nwangwu listed the activities to include agricultural expansion, urbanisation and illegal logging.

He urged participants to move beyond rhetoric and commit to practical actions that would reverse environmental degradation.

The Tide reports that event, themed “Forests and Economies”, drew attention to the critical role forests play in sustaining livelihoods and supporting global economic systems.