To create awareness, top management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, on the morning of Friday 21st March 2025 embarked on road walk in the Federal Capital Territory.
The staff trekked through the streets from the Eagle Square from 7am, as others danced to the music from loud speakers mounted on one of the piloting vehicles.
The road walk terminated at the NTA Headquarters in Abuja.
While the World Water Day has been celebrated on 22 March every year since 1993, the theme of World Water Day 2025 is 'Glacier Preservation'.
Spotting different coloured T-Shirts and face caps, the staff were sharing fliers to passers-by as they walked through the streets.
They danced to songs like that of Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti "Water Eno Get Enemy"
Security personnel including members of the FRSC, and NSCDC were on ground conducting the movement to ensure free flow of vehicular traffic.
Speaking with journalists at the termination of the road walk, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah said "The World Water Day underscores the importance of water in the society. Water is life. Today has been set aside by the United Nations to celebrate water all over the world. Actually, today is the sensitisation stage.
"Tomorrow is the actual day where we will have press conference. And we expect the world to know that as water resources, we are sensitizing people to celebrate water in our country.
"Furthermore, I think we need to this is the best place for sensitization, NTA being the largest news outlet in Africa, I think this is the best place to come for sensitization." he stated
The Director of Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services, Engineer Ade Adenopo, noted that World Water Day is a day set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the importance of Water to the people and the community.
"As we all know, it's a scarce commodity, even though water is available every where but we are talking of the portable water that people can access for their daily use, domestic and other uses.
"Well the world water day all over the world is celebrated on the 22nd of March. And this year's event happens to fall on Saturday, so we are creating awareness for the day today with a sensitization walk from the Eagle Square here in Abuja up to the NTA office.
"So so far, so good the Water Resources ministry has done so much to alleviate the suffering of the masses in respect of potable water. We're doing a lot of work in the provision of water, in the small scale and as well as the large scale.
"Of course, it is the state responsibility, but the federal government has various interventions just to make sure that the populace have access to water. Tomorrow, by the grace of God, after the press briefing by the Honorable Minister of Water Resources, we will be going ahead to the NYSC camp in Kubwa to commission the water facility that has been donated to the camp, and I believe this is replicated in many places in the nation." he said
On open defecation status attained by Jigawa State, he said "I think Jigawa state has thrown a great challenge to the other states, and many are already tapping into this grace.
"So you can see that so many other local governments have come on board since inception of this administration, and then we are hoping to have it coming more and more."
Despite the extension of ending open defecation from 2025 to 2030, he said "I believe that we are making so much impact, and we shall see, as we go, we'll be able to talk more about that."
On his message to Nigerians, he said "I want to call on Nigerians, let's manage our resources, especially this grace resource that God has blessed us with.
"We should not throw it anyhow. Let's make sure we manage what we have in terms of the quantity and in terms of the quality."
The World Water Day focuses on the importance of freshwater and supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is water and sanitation for all by 2030.