The Nigerian government has taken a significant step towards ensuring sustainable management of its cross-border waters with a milestone commitment to join and implement a United Nation treaty known as Water Convention.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu stated this in his opening address while declaring open, a 3-Day National Water-courses and International Lakes for Key Stakeholders in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.
Mr Adamu said acceding to the Convention provides an additional legal and institutional cooperation framework essential in the management of the transboundary waters.
According to the Minister, “target 6.5 focuses on transboundary cooperation to implement integrated water resources management and the Water Convention is an excellent tool to achieve this target.”
“Be rest assured that the Ministry will do all in its power to facilitate Nigeria’s accession to the UN Water Convention,” Adamu said.
Contributing to achievements of Geal 6
The Minister noted that the Ministry of Water Resources was desirous of contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 which seeks to Ensure Availability and Sustainable management of water and Sanitation for all.
“As the most populous country in Africa where the majority of our over two hundred and six million people depend on water that we share with neighbouring countries, Nigeria attaches significant importance to transboundary water cooperation,” he said.
He added that Lake Chad Basin is the largest inland drainage area in Africa and covers an area of 2,434,000 km2, which is equal to 8% of the total area of the African continent.
The Minister further enlightened that the basin extends through Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Central Africa Republic, Chad, and Sudan, and in Nigeria.
According to him, the basin drains about 20% of the country, damming, over extraction, climate change, and drought are all contributing to the rapid depletion of Lake Chad.
“All of these has decreased in size by 90% over the last 60 years. However, this has led to significant unemployment and insecurity challenges in the region.
Also speaking at the event, Chair of the Bureau of Water Convention, Harry Livv, asserted that, International practise during last decades, show that principles and obligations of the Water Convention improves water resources management and water governance.
Adequate Funding
He emphasised the place of political will and adequate funding in repositioning the environmental situation and the Nigerian water sector.
“Political will is important factor, as we see in many places. Participation in the Water Convention and compliance with its provisions serve a clear evidence of the willingness of riparian countries to cooperate and thus enhance the eligibility of international funding.
” Funding is key factor to improve real environmental situation in basin. So I hope, that during this workshop we are able to discuss over several important topics, with the idea speed up accession to the Water Convention.” he added
In his goodwill message, the Secretary of the Water Convention, Dr Sonja Koeppel, pointed that effective global legal and intergovernmental framework is needed for shared waters, including ground waters.
Mrs Koeppel also explained that the Water Convention workshop represents an important milestone and unique opportunity for thoroughly analysing the obligations of the Convention.
She said “Nigeria like many other countries worldwide, still faces significant challenges in transboundary water cooperation and national water management, such as increasing water scarcity due to economic development and population growth as well as climate change impacts, floods, increasing pollution, and others.”
According to her, the Water Convention comes with a lot of benefits; which helps countries to address challenges.
“Accession can enable support by the community of Parties, experience-sharing with basins and countries worldwide, facilitate access to financing and raising the country profile at the International level.
“It also strengthens National Water Management and transboundary cooperation,” Mrs Koeppel added.
Confidence Okwuchi
