FG calls for collective responsibility, increased awareness to protect rivers, water sources
FG calls for collective responsibility, increased awareness to protect rivers, water sources
FG calls for collective responsibility, increased awareness to protect rivers, water sources
By Matthew Eloyi
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for collective responsibility and increased awareness to protect the country’s rivers and water sources.
Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, made the call on Monday at the maiden commemoration of the 2021 World Rivers Day, with the theme, ‘Water Ways in our Communities’.
He said rivers currently faced threats of pollution, climate change, urbanization among others.
According to him, the day is an avenue to seek an effective response to various threats to rivers and seek innovative ways of improving the quality of river water.
In his words, “The importance of this event cannot be over-emphasized, given the benefits of rivers to the socio-economic life and well-being of all nations globally.
“As we know, rivers supply water and nutrients to different parts of the earth for the sustenance of living organisms, while also acting as drainage channels for surface run-off water.
“Report has it that rivers drain about 75 per cent of the earth’s land surface thereby providing transportation routes, source of energy and fertile soil for farming.’’
According to him, rivers play a significant role in the water cycle especially in the formation of rain.
“Apart from the supply of food in the form of nutrients, rivers also provide habitat for aquatic plants and animals. In view of the above, it is evident that rivers play a very key role in the economic survival of any nation,” he said.
