Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, yesterday called on stakeholders to take deliberate actions that will ensure water security, local water conservation programmes, and water-saving practices.

He made the call at a press briefing to commemorate the 2025 World Water Day themed, “Glacier Preservation” in Abuja.

WWD is celebrated each year on March 22 to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.

The minister noted that though Nigeria does not have glaciers, and they may seem distant from its immediate water challenges, their preservation is still crucial for the global climate system, and the rapid melting of nature’s crystal giants has contributed to extreme weather events globally, and nations far from glacier regions, like Nigeria, are not immune to these cascading effects.

He said Nigeria is tackling challenges in achieving SDG 6 by implementing initiatives like the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene, the National Action Plan for WASH, and the Nigeria Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene Programme, which aim to improve water access, sanitation, and hygiene.

He added that the country is also investing in water infrastructure, irrigation systems, hydrological research, and sustainable management of river basins and dams to ensure equitable and efficient use of water resources.

“We are not ignorant of the fact that sustainable water security requires partnerships at all levels of government, private sector, development partners, and communities. To this end, we call on all stakeholders to redouble their efforts at supporting initiatives that enhance Nigeria’s water security and contribute to peace and development.

“The Federal Government will continue to strengthen policies on climate adaptation, enhance flood control systems, and invest in sustainable water infrastructure; state governments should implement local water conservation programmes, promote afforestation, and enforce environmental regulations; the private sector must invest in eco-friendly technologies, support sustainable water management initiatives, and engage in corporate social responsibility projects for clean water access.

“Research institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations should raise awareness about the effects of environmental issues like glacier loss, conduct studies on climate resilience, and advocate for community-based adaptation measures; and communities and individuals must adopt water-saving practices, participate in tree planting efforts, and push for stronger environmental policies.

“As we commemorate World Water Day 2025, let us renew our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian has access to safe and sustainable water. A water-secure Nigeria is a climate-resilient Nigeria,” Utsev said.

The minister also launched the United Nations World Water Development Report titled, “Mountains and Glaciers -Water towers,” the climate resilient water safety plan guidelines, and the revised technical designs for WASH facilities.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, emphasised that water is both a global and local resource that requires careful and thoughtful management.

“We may claim as a country that the effects of glacier floods do not directly affect us, but the larger environmental shifts that drive such changes do.

“We recognise the central role water plays in national development and need to prioritise management for both current and future generations,” he said.

The Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Jane Bevan, noted that the theme for this year’s WWD highlights the impacts of climate change.

“Climate change is most definitely affecting all of us in Nigeria. UNICEF has been supporting the ministry in many different initiatives to respond to this issue, we are supporting the technical working group’s climate rationale, which was approved by the council in January, and the design revision to make sure they’re more climate resilient for all WASH facilities, which will be unveiled today.

“We are also supporting communities to better strengthen their ability to respond to climate issues. So, that’s about climate-resilient water safety planning.

“Climate change is real, it’s happening now, it’s getting worse, and we all need to be thinking about the climate about everything we do, particularly wasteful water, think about the use of water, minimising the use wherever possible, and encouraging others to do so as well,” she stated.

Also, a Senior Water Specialist at the World Bank, Chinedu Umolu said there is a  need for continuous preservation and sustainability of water for the future generations.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, highlighted that glaciers play an essential role in the global water cycle, storing nearly two-thirds of all the freshwater on Earth—they are the water towers of the world.

Azoulay, who was represented by Dr Enang Momoh, said that the organisation will continue to work with the government and stakeholders to implement a comprehensive programme to address the impact of climate disruption on glaciers.

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