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From Isaac Job, Uyo
An expert on water resources management, Dr. Samuel Adejuwon, has urged the federal government to invest more in water, sanitation, and climate change to achieve food sufficiency in the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital during a paper presentation at the opening session of the 31 Regular Meeting of the National Council on Water Resources And Sanitation on the theme “Water And Food Security: Challenges And Opportunities In The Face Of Daunting Climate Change” urged the federal government to consider Water and Sanitation as critical to development and food security.
Adejuwon while delivering the paper titled ” Building Partnership for Effective Flood Management And Resource Allocation in the Face of Daunting Climate Change” said 300 persons died from flood related incident in 2024 adding that federal government can do more to mitigate dangers associated with flood .
” 300 persons died in 2024 from flood in some parts of the country. Effects of flood include displacement of persons, loss crops in farmlands and loss of lives and property among others ” .
The world bank consultant Mr Wilfred Hundermark in his paper titled “National Water Security Strategic Framework for Nigeria”observed that poor sanitation cost Nigeria N455b each year and advised Nigeria to remodeled policy framework on water and sanitation to check such monumental loss.
” Poor sanitation cost Nigeria N455b yearly . This loss can be controlled through strategic policy framework ”
However, the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation Mr Richard Pheelangwah in his remarks maintained that water, sanitation and food security are critical to the development .
Pheelangwa , who is also the Chairman of the Council said water, sanitation and food security directly affect public health, economic productivity and environmental sustainability.
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He charged the National Technical Committee, who are on a five day meeting to identify challenges and chart the way forward through the memoranda to be presented.
“The theme of this year’s Council meeting “Water and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities in the Face of Daunting Climate Change” was carefully chosen to reflect the critical importance of water, food security and the negative impact of climate change on the people.
“The theme appears timely, as this could not have come at a better time than now.
“It is apt we keep meeting because, whatever it is we know today, may not stand the test tomorrow.
“Life keeps evolving, we must evolve with it or else, what we pride ourselves of knowing yesterday becomes obsolete today,” he said.
He noted that the recent declaration for a state of emergency on food security by President Bola Tinubu required relevant ministries and authorities to ensure adequate irrigation and cultivation of farmland for food production all year round.
The permanent secretary commended the Akwa Ibom Government and development partners for their unflinching support to the ministry.
In her remarks, Mrs Emah Udonsek, Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation said that water and food security were fundamental to human survival, economic development and environmental sustainability.
” The technical session which will review memos submitted by states and critical stakeholders will be crucial n shaping our collective response to the water and food security challenges “
