STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCATE CONCERTED EFFORTS TOWARDS IMPROVING WATER SITUATION IN NIGERIA
Stakeholders in the water and climate change sector have called on all citizens to imbibe the culture of responsible utilization of water and avoid acts capable of further worsening the climatic condition of the environment.
They made the call during a Road Walk, which took off from Saint Faith Cathedral and terminated at Arroma Junction in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, to mark the World Water Day, ahead of its commemoration on Sunday, 22nd March, 2020.
The Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, who is also the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH Ambassador for the South East Zone, declared the road walk open, with a call on everyone to make patriotic efforts towards preserving the water sources to get safe water for human consumption and other uses.
Represented by the Managing Director, Transport Company of Anambra State, Dr. Ify Madukasi, the Governor’s wife stressed the need for people to take hand-washing seriously, particularly now that the global community battles against the dreaded Coronavirus disease.
“Simple hygiene to keep away from contagious diseases by making sure that whoever that entres our houses and must touch us must have washed their hands. As result of the theme: Water and Climate Change, we want to enjoin all of us to first save our water because water is life,” she stated.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities, the Reverend Polycarp Amanze-Chukwu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Donor Agencies, Mrs. Mary Ogugua, commended the European Union for its contribution, which had made the commemoration of the Water Day more impactful.
Tthe Project Co-ordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP in the state, Mr. Michael Ivenso, admonished the people to be mindful of their relationship with the environment because of its impact on the climate.
According to Mr. Ivenso, “Climate is changing rapidly and all of us had contributed to it. Climate change can come in any form, increased rainfall, increased temperature, extended time of whether dry season or wet season. In fact, that are abnormal are aftermaths of the climate change.”
For the Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Public Utilities, Mr. Chidi Udemadu, there is a compelling need for policy makers to take the issue of water and climate change very seriously.
“For us to have a friendly environment, a safe drinking water, all hands must be on deck. Our policy makers must put up policies that will help the government to achieve to achieve a sustainable, good drinking water for its citizens,” Mr. Udemadu advised.
Civil Society Organisations, the National Youth Service Corps, the Centre for Water Resource Capacity Building and Climate Change, NAU as well as the Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and school children were part of the road show.
In the spirit of the theme of the 2020 World Water Day, adapting to the water effects of climate change will protect health and save lives, while using water more efficiently will reduce greenhouse gases.
It was the unanimous submission of speakers that the harmful effects of the climate change could be mitigated and the global water situation improved upon, but everyone must play a role.
ALFRED AJAYI