Water is life. So goes a popular saying. However, it is a reality that many communities in Nigeria, both rural and urban, suffer serious shortage of water.
According to Water Security for All initiative, 26.5 million Nigerian children are experiencing high or extremely high water vulnerability; this is 29 per cent of Nigerian children.
The analysis, according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), identified areas where physical water scarcity risks overlap with poor water service levels. Communities living in these areas depend on surface water, unimproved sources of water, or water that can take more than 30 minutes to collect.
“The world’s water crisis is not coming – it is here, and children are its biggest victims,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.
“When wells dry up, children are the ones missing school to fetch water. When droughts diminish food supplies, children suffer from malnutrition and stunting. When floods hit, children fall ill from waterborne illnesses. And when water is not available in Nigerian communities, children cannot wash their hands to fight off diseases,” said Hawkins.
Research has it that over 70 per cent of households in rural communities do not have access to improved water supply. They rely solely on self-water supply (free source) such as rivers, perennial streams, water ponds and unprotected wells which are susceptible to water borne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, malaria parasites and so on.
It was therefore a case of prayers answered when a seven-unit water borehole project under the Chief of the Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Project (SIQIP) in honour of Rear Admiral Olushola Oluwagbire, the Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters was commissioned on Thursday, April 3, in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The boreholes were located in seven communities within Iseyin land. The communities include Ilado, Oke Ola, Osoogun and Molete. Others are Igboleya, Ayedun and Ita Epo.
According to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, represented by the Chief of Naval Transformation, Rear Admiral Monday Unuiehere, the programme was launched in 2024 to facilitate the attainment of the re-invigorated Nigerian Navy’s Civil Military Cooperations’ mandate and to contribute to. The ongoing Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
These projects are also avenues for the Nigerian Navy to honour its accomplished senior officers and an indication that beyond physically securing lives and properties, the Navy was committed to serving the interests of Nigerians through other ways.
“Under this scheme, accomplished serving Navy Officer like the Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Navy, Real Admiral Olushola Oluwagbire, a noble son of Iseyin, was given opportunity to reach his people.
“The project is in addition to the Nigerian Navy way of securing lives and securing our national heritage,” he said.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Oluwagbire, said that the inauguration marked a significant milestone in the partnership between the Navy and the people of Iseyin.
Oluwagbire, the facilitator of the project, particularly appreciated Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) for his visionary leadership and commitment to projects that positively impact communities across Nigeria. He mentioned that the project was a clear demonstration of the Navy’s role as a force for good, ensuring not only maritime security but also the well being of the people. He then charged the people of Iseyin to take ownership of the seven water projects and ensure their sustainability.
“Out of the seven communities is a community called Igboleya , where cattle and the people of the community drink from the same water.
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“This borehole is the first industrial borehole in that community,” he said.
The Special Guest of Honour at the occasion was Hon Oyedeji Oyeshina representing the Federal Constituency of Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Kajola/ Iwajowa at the House of Representatives.
He emphasized the importance of these kind of projects and the need for individuals to give back to their communities. Oyeshina was particularly pleased with the choice of the water project, repeatedly quoting: “Water is life and has no enemy.”
Special guests at occasion included the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, Adeyeri III; the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government Area, Honourable Bisi Rasaq Fadiran and representatives of the seven benefiting communities who delivered good will messages and were full of prayers for the CNS, as well as the entire Nigerian Navy family.
Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Onubugu represented by Brigadier General HI Dasuki; Rear Admiral Kelechi Igwe, Director Civil Military Cooperation, Naval Headquarters; Air Commodore SA Adeyanju, Commander of the Nigerian Air Force Station in Ibadan; representative of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police; other military/ para military commanders, the facilitator’s father Col JA Fagbire (rtd); religious leaders and members of the public including beneficiaries of the projects.
The Aseyin called on people in authority to emulate the facilitator by giving back to their communities.
The commissioning ended on a cordial note and the Navy delegation was briefly hosted at the palace by the Aseyin of Iseyin.
and then