The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has said that the Federal Government is unrelenting about making potable water accessible to all Nigerians nationwide.
He said that it was unfortunate that the country is blessed with 156 billion cubic metres of water, but it has not been well harnessed over the years for the overall benefit of the people.
The minister spoke at the 13th annual conference of the Nigeria Association of Hydrological Sciences (NAHS), held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka.
Represented by the Managing Director of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Femi Odumosu, the minister said the world is experiencing a shortage of water and then encouraged the association to continue research on water resources to bridge the gap between science and the people.
Professor Utsev observed that climate change in the form of drought had greatly affected the availability of water for human consumption and other purposes.
“Water is critical to life, livelihood, and the economy. No meaningful development can take place on the globe without water,” he said.
He called for the timely exchange of knowledge and collaboration with likeminded individuals to formulate policies and propose solutions that would ensure effective management of water resources.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Mrs Folasade Ogunsola, said she was glad that the society considered UNILAG as the venue of the event.
Represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Obanishola Sodiq, the vice chancellor described the conference as crucial to the current happenings in the country and the world.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Mrs Funke Adepoju, who was the guest speaker, said water is an indispensable element in every society, adding that scarcity of water, lack of clean water, floods, pollution, and vulnerability of coastal areas to rising water levels are among the challenges facing mankind.
She maintained that the absence of adequate water poses a major challenge to farmers, which in turn affects the level of agricultural produce.
Mrs Adepoju urged NAHS and other stakeholders to harness their potential to address the challenges confronting humanity.
“Deforestation has greatly affected human existence in many ways. Adapting to climate change is very important when considering solutions to the menace. I urge this gathering to ensure responsible management and equitable distribution of water,” she added.
NAHS President, Professor David Jimoh, described the group as a multidisciplinary association focused on advancing knowledge of hydrological and water resources.
He said the association recognised the challenges in the provision of water as multifaceted, adding that some of them are technical and managerial in nature.
He said the forum would rub minds and offer workable solutions to the problems.
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