*Marks World River's Day, Declaring Rivers Entitlement To Fundamental Rights, Legal Guardians
The Federal Government on Monday warned against unwholesome practices that are polluting water ways and threatening their existence.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev gave the warning in Abuja at a press briefing to commemorate the 2024 World Rivers Day.
The Minister, according to a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Terhemen Oraduen, expressed concern that despite the enormous benefits of rivers to human existence and aquatic lives, rivers have "come under severe threats as a result of unwholesome practices being carried out by humans including direct disposal of untreated effluent and sewage into rivers coupled with the negative impact of climate change."
Professor Utsev urged critical stakeholders in the water sector to perceive rivers as living entities entitled to fundamental rights and legal guardians.
He called on river advocates to scale up sensitization of communities residing on the banks of Rivers, streams and lakes on the urgent need to protect and safeguard them from pollution, misuse and extinction.
He also announced that his ministry has embarked on assessment of Alau dam in Maiduguri to ascertain its integrity in order to take stringent measures that would help in guarding against future flood incident in the town.
Professor Utsev also said relevant State Governments along the banks of river Benue Adamawa and Taraba have been notified of the gradual release of impounded water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon and were advised to remain vigilant and implement preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of the impending flood.
According to him, he has directed the twelve River Basin Development Authorities to monitor daily occurrences at the dams and report to him particularly any situation that stands to threaten the safety of lives and properties within their catchment areas.
The Water Resources and Sanitation Minister also said the Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited operators of Kainji Dam, Jebba and Zungeru Hydropower plants has announced its annual discharge of water from its reservoirs while a massive sensitization of communities residing along flood plains to move to safer grounds is being carried out.
According to Professor Utsev, his ministry was conscious of maintaining a balance between irrigation, water quality and food production in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration which is geared towards ensuring food security, wealth creation, inclusivity and improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of Nigerians.
On his part, the Honourable Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation Barr Bello Goronyo dispelled media reports of the Goronyo dam collapse saying such reports were fake as the dam was intact and called on Nigerians to avoid any act that will contaminate or pollute water ways .
The event futured symbolic planting of trees and river cleaning at Jabi Lake in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation Mr Richard Pheelangwah.
He performed the function on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev.