FG seeks collective action against river pollution, flooding

•As rights group faults creation of Disaster Relief Fund

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has called for urgent collective action to protect Nigeria’s rivers and waterways from pollution and the rising threat of flooding.

Utsev made the call during Nigeria’s celebration of the 2024 World Rivers Day, with the global theme: “The Incredible Natural, Cultural, and Recreational Values of Rivers and Streams in our Communities.” In Nigeria, sub-themed: “Protect Our Rivers from Pollution.”

Utsev emphasised that rivers should not be treated as refuse dumps, warning against the disposal of sewage and untreated waste into water bodies.

He urged Nigerians to halt harmful practices that degrade rivers and stressed the critical role rivers play in the water cycle, economic survival, and the preservation of aquatic ecosystems.

“Rivers are integral to our survival, serving as sources of water for communities, supporting agriculture, providing habitats for aquatic life, and contributing to the formation of rainfall,” he said.

The minister also said the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had confirmed the controlled release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, which was intended to prevent severe flooding downstream in Nigeria, particularly along the Benue River.

Earlier, Minister of State for Water Resources, Bello Goronyo, cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified information regarding dam safety.

MEANWHILE, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s directive to establish a Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), arguing that the creation will duplicate the role of the existing Ecological Fund, which was set up to address environmental issues such as flooding.

HURIWA described the move as both wasteful and prone to mismanagement, and called on the Federal Government to focus on properly managing the Ecological Fund rather than creating new mechanisms for disaster relief.

The announcement for the establishment of DRF was made during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, where the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed that the fund would be geared toward addressing disasters caused by climate change, such as the recent floods in Maiduguri, Borno State.

But, HURIWA, in a statement, emphasised that the Ecological Fund established by law under the Federation Account Act of 1981 was designed specifically to address such ecological problems, including floods.