The federal authorities has urged Nigerians to cease dumping sewage, refuse, plastics and different pollution into rivers and waterways, warning that contaminated water assets pose critical dangers to public well being and livelihoods.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made the decision yesterday in Abuja throughout a media briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Rivers Day, themed: , “No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life.”
Utsev mentioned untreated sewage and wastewater coming into rivers had penalties past environmental degradation, as they might threaten public well being, have an effect on livelihoods, compromise water provides and place further burdens on communities.
He mentioned this was why the Federal Government was addressing water assets administration and sanitation collectively.
“Keeping plastics, refuse and other pollutants out of our drains, streams and rivers is not simply an environmental responsibility; it is a contribution to protecting public health and securing the future of our communities,” the minister mentioned.
Utsev disclosed that 179 Local Government Areas throughout the nation had to date been validated as Open Defecation Free by way of the Federal Government’s Clean Nigeria Campaign, whereas greater than 5,238 public sanitation services had been supported nationwide.
He mentioned the achievements mirrored efforts to maintain human waste out of drains, streams and rivers and advance the nation’s sanitation and hygiene targets underneath the Sustainable Development Goals.
The minister, nevertheless, urged Nigerians to maintain the features by ending open defecation and adopting accountable wastewater and sanitation practices.
He additionally known as for an finish to indiscriminate dumping of refuse, effluents and plastics into waterways, whereas urging communities to guard river catchments from air pollution and degradation.
Utsev mentioned Nigeria’s rivers have been underneath growing strain from inhabitants development, urbanisation, untreated wastewater, indiscriminate waste disposal, agricultural runoff, erosion and sand mining, with local weather change additional compounding the challenges.
He careworn that the safety of rivers required the involvement of governments, communities, conventional establishments, the non-public sector, growth companions and civil society.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management throughout the nation and enhancing water-quality monitoring, whereas supporting the safety and restoration of watersheds and river catchments.
He mentioned dependable information on rainfall, river flows, groundwater and water high quality would even be strengthened to help evidence-based administration of the nation’s water assets.
The minister urged younger Nigerians to take the lead in tackling plastic air pollution, open defecation and poor wastewater administration, in addition to restoring degraded ecosystems and selling water conservation.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, whereas talking on the World Rivers Day celebration at Wupa River alongside Kuje Road, Abuja, mentioned air pollution, deforestation, erosion, uncontrolled growth and local weather change have been more and more threatening Nigeria’s water assets.
She mentioned the challenges had implications for water high quality, public well being, agriculture, biodiversity and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who rely instantly or not directly on the nation’s rivers.
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