World Water Day: Association urges FG to harness water resources’ potential for human development

THE Association of Tourism, Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOWATN) has called on the Federal Government to fully harness the potential of water resources for human development.

Mr Tarzan Balogun, the president of the association, made the plea at the celebration of World Water Day on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year celebration is “Why Wastewater”?

International World Water Day is held annually on March 22 to focus the attention of the public on the importance of freshwater and advocating the sustainable management of freshwater.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March, 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Balogun said: “Water is the essential building block of human existence in life. Water is more than just essential to quench thirst or protect health but essential to our daily living.

“The significance of water cannot be over-emphasised; it is a daily need and has its own social and economic impacts in the society.

“If well utilized, water can be used to create jobs, alleviate poverty and support human and economic development.

“There is nothing human beings can do in life without the water, it has no enemy rather it is for our sustenance,’’ Balogun said.

He urged the government to ensure that the supply of potable water reached the grassroots, where it is mostly suffered.

“Water is a scarce commodity in some parts of the country. There are some villages in the country that the villagers trek for about 30miles before they can get water.

“In as much government knows the significance of water in human existence, they should ensure that water is made available to both the rural and urban areas,” he said.

Balogun said that last year, the government wanted to stop people from drilling boreholes in various homes, but to be dependent on public water supply.

He described the move as a good idea, stressing that before such could be achieved, government needed to put necessary measures in place to ensure sufficient water supply for public consumption.

“The idea of public water will be good because it will help to reduce wastages.

“Once people know that they pay for water they are consuming; they will be mindful of how they use or waste it,” he said.

Balogun added that before the use of public water could be achieved; there would be the need for constant electricity supply, water treatment vaccines and machinery needed for distribute them round the country.

He also advised the government to improve on security and safety measures on the waterways to reduce casualties.

“Government should constantly clear debris, water hyacinth, wrecks and other impediments that can cause casualties or accident on the waterways,” he said.

Balogun, however, appealed to government to support the Private, Public, and Partnership (PPP) initiative to boost activities on the waterways.