THE QUEST FOR WATER SUFFICIENCY AND THE CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS IN NIGERIA.

| Share |

Home >
Our Actions >
Ambassador report

3
Comments

ambassador Report View
THE QUEST FOR WATER SUFFICIENCY AND THE CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS IN NIGERIA.
by Olawale Aluko \| 12-03-2018 23:42 0
The country Nigeria is endowed with abundant wetland resources which account for many human activities such as, fishing, transportation, farming, water for drinking and domestic use etc. It ranges from swamp inland, mangrove and freshwater) to water bodies (Shallow and deep waters). In spite of this, the country has not being able to attain 100%water sufficiency for her citizens due to the mismanagement of the country's wetlands, leading to pollution of the wetlands and sometimes as it has been seen, their extinction. Water is life and water supply is essential to life on earth. Despite Nigeria's abundance of water resources, statistics has shown that as at 2015,only 69% of the country's population have access to improved water supply with 57% of them being rural population. There has always being formulation of policies by the government but poor implementation has proofed them to be of little or no benefit and help. For example in 2003,a presidential water initiative: WATER FOR PEOPLE, WATER FOR LIFE, was launched by the then president Olusegun Obasanjo with the targets of increasing water access (including a 100% target in state capitals), 75% access in other urban area and 66% in rural areas. It is saddening to note that little was done to implement this initiative and the targets have not been met. The national water and sanitation policy was then launched in 2004 with emphasis on water management and conservation but with this, the country couldn't still as a member state of the UN attain the Millennium development goal for water and sanitation. However in June 2016,president Muhammadu Buhari approved a water resources road map (2016-2030) with the goal of reaching 100% water supply to Nigerian citizens by the year 2030 in a bid to attain the sustainable development goal number 6 which is ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION AND SOUND MANAGEMENT OF FRESH WATER. It is hoped that this doesn't go down history as one of the country's numerous policies in the sector that were not thoroughly implemented. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WETLANDS IS A PANACEA TO ENSURING WATER FOR ALL. REFERENCE(S): Chambers Umezulike-Challenges in the Nigerian water sector, if the problem is not lack of comprehensive regimes, then what is it? Elegbede Isa Olalekan1, Li-Hammed Morufat Abimbola, Matemilola Saheed and Omosanya Azeezah Damilola-Wetland Resources of Nigeria: Case Study of the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands

Dormant user Olawale Aluko

3 Comments

Olawale Aluko says :
You welcome
Posted 14-03-2018 00:33

Gyeongrin mentor says :
Hello Olawale!!
I've read many reports about the lack of water supply due to draught, but never thought about the mismanagement of already existing water supply. Management surely seems to be an important challenge in allocationg resources. I am learining optimization in my major, which is all about deciding the right supplyment regarding needs with constraints such as expense etc. I hope more experts could participate in the governemt project to lead it in to the right way!

Thanks!!!

Posted 13-03-2018 11:54