Some Abuja residents
have appealed to government at all levels to give priority to water supply both for domestic and other uses.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with The Tide.
The residents who spoke at the backdrop of March 22, as World Water Day, said effective management of the nation’s water resources could help to address the country’s water needs.
A school administrator, Mrs Kate Adams, called on governments to pay more attention to the provision of safe and clean water for the homes.
“We need water for virtually everything we do at home; drinking, bathing, washing, cooking, among others.
“We need water to be alive, even to be healthy because a dirty environment breeds diseases that is avoidable if there is clean water.
“Governments should continue in their efforts, especially in providing water for homes so that all homes would have access to safe and clean water,” she said.
A legal practitioner,  Mrs Jumoke Akinyele, said more attention should be paid to proper management of water resources.
“Governments should be proactive in handling water issues, because the success of other sectors depends largely on the proper management of water resources.
“At home, when there is water, sanitation is enhanced, many man-hours spent in search of water could be reduced, and the girl-child would be in school instead of searching for water on daily basis.
“Also, agricultural activities would be enhanced; power and energy would  receive a boost; the health of the nation would be robust, water is just too essential to be neglected”, she stressed.
Also, a gardener Mrs Udauk Udom, said the usefulness of water could not be over emphasised, as agriculture, for instance cannot thrive without water.
“When water is made available you would see fresh food everywhere, and farm produce will come in abundance all year round, so water is worth celebrating,” Udom said.
In a related development, the Programme Manager, Society for Water and Sanitation, Mr David Akuta, also stressed the need for Nigeria to harness its water resources.
“It is said often that water is life and various predictions indicate that future wars will not be fought over oil but over water.
“We can see that in the amount of security mounted on the Nile River in Egypt.
“Also climate changes are depleting water sources like in the case of Lake Chad which has shrunk from 25,000 square metres to 2,500 square metres and requires transfer of water from the Congo.
“So for Nigeria, it is time for us to put our foot down, especially regarding the provisions of water and sanitation facilities.
“It is also time to trap fresh water sources in dams for the future generations.
Similarly,  Coordinator, Green Jobs Nigeria Limited, Mr Ibrahim Jauro,  said improved and innovative technologies abound in the water sector.