Nigeria’s legislature has been urged to speedily pass the Water bill into law to kick-start efforts for the protection of existing water resources across the country.
The Management of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, CRBDA, made the remark while the celebration of the World Rivers Day in Kwa River falls, a tourism sites within Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
The Managing Director of CRBDA, Mr. Bassey Mkposong said that the basin authority decided to mark its maiden edition of the World Rivers Day since its inception in 2005 by Mark Angelo.
Legislation benefit
Mr Mkposong, who was accompanied to Kwa River Falls by more than seventy staff for the celebration, noted with the passage of the legislation, practical steps would be taken to stop further contamination of rivers and the resources there in.
He explained that with rapid urbanization, increasing population, indiscriminate dumping of debris in the rivers, preserving Nigeria’s water resources was crucial to its survival.
Mr Mkposong said, “Sea food and mineral deposits obtained from rivers have no doubt contributed greatly to Nigeria’s development. It is unarguably the source for employment and sustenance for most people.
“Realizing the huge importance of rivers to the overall development of humans, it behooves on us to pay close attention to the preservation and sustenance of this resource.
“Apart from ensuring that water ways are cleared and dumping of refuse strictly monitored, legislation on the proper use of water and its resources should be put in place and judiciously adhered to.
“It is against this background that one welcomes the proposed water bill by the national assembly. It is expected that when the bill is eventually passed into law, regulations and standards will be maintained and enforced for the good of the nation,” he said.
Collective action
According to him, the theme of this year’s World Rivers Day celebration, “Water Ways in our Communities” was apt due to the large number of Nigerian settlers along the river banks, whose means of livelihood were under threat from pollution, urging people to be actively involved in protection.
“It is also true that rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats and it is only when all stakeholders are actively involved can we be sure of the survival of this most treasured resource,” he said.
He further urged people to avoid contaminating rivers to avert sicknesses and death, noting that in as much as rivers could serve as a source of livelihood; polluted ones can cause destruction and agony of entire communities.
The event featured the planting of several coconut tree seedlings around the location of the water fall and the premises of the basin authority.
Dominica Nwabufo
