Coca-Cola Nigeria, others call for increased collaboration on water sustainability

Soft drinks company, Coca Cola and other stakeholders in water-related fields in the  public and private sectors of the nation’s economy,  have stressed the need for increased level of collaboration to tackle some  challenges associated with water scarcity and its waste in Nigeria.

Speaking during a sustainable development symposium  tagged, ‘From Global Goals to Local Action: Catalyzing Action Towards Sustainable Water Development’, organised by Pan Atlantic University (Lagos Business School), in Lagos, the stakeholders declared that it had become imperative for  government, corporate organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations to partner in promoting sustainable water provisions and management in Nigeria.

The stakeholders  expressed the belief that such collaboration would go a long way  in bridging the demand gap for water access in communities.

Speaking during a panel discussion session at the symposium, Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca Cola West Africa Business Unit, Mr. Clem Ugorji stated that it had become increasingly imperative for government and other critical stakeholders to work together to ensure water availability for all, considering the population growth and limited access to potable water.

Ugorji, who  stated that the soft drinks company had been at  the forefront of sustainability campaigns in recent times,  called for more collaborative and concerted efforts of the relevant stakeholders to ensure that water become readily accessible, in the country.

He restated the commitment of the company to continue to provide clean water to the environment noting that the drive for water efficiency by the company is anchored on the three key pillars: Reduce, Recycle and Replenish.

Ugorji expressed the company’s commitment to achieving water neutrality in the year 2020 by consciously reducing its water usage and recycle such used water and return it safely to the environment.

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While acknowledging the effort of Coca-Cola and other corporate organisations in the area of waste water collection, Ugorji disclosed that a broader coalition of industry players was already in force to tackle the challenge saying that the coalition remains committed to offering innovative solutions that would bring an end to the problem.

Also speaking at the symposium, a Don at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, Prof. Taibat Lawanson stressed the need for government and the private sectors to work together to ensure efficient availability of water resources to the communities.

She attributed the poor delivery of water projects across communities by both government and corporate organizations to lack of proper engagement of the communities, while emphasizing that there was the need to carry them along right from conceptualization.

On his part, the Chief Operating Officer of Lagos State Water Corporation, Engineer Deji Johnson appealed to Nigerians as well as corporate organizations to show concern in the manner in which water is used.