As the World Marks 2017 World Water Day, Nigeria to meet SDGs Goal 6 Target

The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE has said that Nigeria is committed to achieving the goal six (6) target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water.

Goal 6 on water ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The minister said that access to water and sanitation is often taken for granted in developing countries like Nigeria because most often, people see water as a free commodity. “We waste water, we do not treat it and we do not preserve it”, he said. 

According to the Minister, World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources globally.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “waste water”, would highlight the symbiosis between water and waste water in the quest for sustainable development, it would also help to get latest updates on how waste water is perceived as a valuable resource in the development of the economy.

Specifically it will enlighten us on how improving waste water management impacts improvement on all six (6) targets of the Sustainable Development Goal on Water.

The Minister said that the ministry on its part is doing everything possible to attaining the goal 6 target on water by adopting a national approach to most of its activities and programmes. According to him the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply and Hygiene (PEWASH) recently launched by the Vice President and the National Water Resources Bill awaiting approval would address all issues militating against the attainment of Goal 6 of the SDGs on water.

The Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Yakubu Ibn Mohammed commended the ministry for drawing people’s attention to the importance of the World Water Day’s theme, “waste water”.

According to him, Nigeria needs Water literacy. There is the need to educate people that water is perishable. “In Nigeria we waste water a lot, so there is the need to educate Nigerians on the importance of preserving water for future uses and we in NTA will partner with your ministry to educate Nigerians”, he said.

Margaret E. Umoh