By Tina George, Minna
Niger state government has advocated for the provision of appropriate legislative framework to improve the value of rivers across the country.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Suleiman Yusuf stated this during the 2021 World Rivers Day programme organized by the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in Minna on Wednesday.
According to him, the appropriate legislative framework will create stable and attractive environment for investors and development partners, adding that new policy strategies and innovation would increase the conservation of the rivers.
Suleiman said that “pollution of river bodies, security challenges at the river points, inadequate power supply, lack of ownership of river facilities by benefiting communities, institutional and human capacity weaknesses and poor operation and maintenance culture have impeded the efficient and effective usage of the rivers.
“Some of these problems threaten the value of rivers across the state. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in years ahead,” he said.
He commended the Authority for joining the rest of the world in celebrating World Rivers Day, assuring that the state government will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians have access to sustainable and safe utilization of river point and waterways transcending across the state.
The Managing Director of the Authority, Mohammed Ali noted that Nigeria is celebrating World Rivers Day for the first time since the United Nations launched the event in 2005.
According to him, many people take the rivers for granted, pointing out that clean freshwater is one of the potent means humanity could use in combating diseases.
Ali explained that World Rivers Day is set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the world waterways, highlight the numerous valise of the rivers and increase public awareness on ways of caring for these natural water resources.
In his paper presentation, a Lecturer o the IBB University Lapai, Professor Suleiman Abubakar cautioned people in communities and industries to stop dumping refuse and industrial wastes into rivers and avoid unlawful diversion of the river.
He further stressed the need for communities to engage in the clearance of river banks and construct bridges to enable effective use of the river.
The Authority commemorated the day with a roadshow awareness campaign, cleaning demonstration and tree planting and paper presentation after the roadshow.
