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By Christopher Oji
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and a firm advocating for water supply in the country, Fordmarx Nigeria Ltd., have called on the Federal Government to address the ongoing armed conflict in the country which threatens water availability to citizens.
Head of the UNESCO office in Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo, and the Executive Director of FordMarx, Oforbuike Nnaji, spoke at an event organised to commemorate the World Water Day in Abuja at the weekend.
They said Nigeria was already facing a water crisis, adding that the ongoing conflicts in many parts of the country could compound the situation if not urgently addressed.
Diallo, however, assured the Nigerian government of UNESCO’s readiness to help the country on its water sustainable management.
He said: “Conflict can exacerbate the existing water crisis in the country. The linkages between water and armed conflict are complex. Sustainable water management leads to prosperity and peace depending on the decisions taken by the government. We will continue to support the Nigerian government on its sustainable water management of its water resources for peace and prosperity as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals goal six.”
Nnaji noted that he planned to create 50 million jobs through solar powered irrigation and increase access to potable water to all Nigerians.
He said no Nigerian should lack potable water if not for corruption in the country He added that while water is commonly attributed to life, water can also be a purveyor of death if contaminated.
He said Nigeria has been bedevilled with the challenge of how to make safe water available and affordable to the people.
“Governments have come and gone, water projects have been established here and there, policies have been made, including ones not implemented, all aimed at tackling the challenge of availability and affordability of safe water, but, regrettably, these have not addressed the issues in the Water sector.
“Inefficient governance systems, corruption, among others, have made it impossible for policies and efforts aimed at addressing the challenge of safe water provision in Nigeria to be realised. Nigerians still drink unwholesome water and rely on all manner of unclean water for their domestic activities,” he said.
Nnaji said Fordmarx, as part of its contribution, plans to donate 37 solar-powered water boreholes to all the states of the federation, plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“This is in addition to a separate 37 solar powered irrigation projects in all the states.”
He added that the firm is also offering to train free-of-charge, 10 engineers and technicians, per state of the federation including FCT, “thereby empowering at least 370 trained engineers and technicians in the industry, in Nigeria.
“Subject to the requisite cooperation of the various governments throughout Nigeria, it is our ultimate desire to create a minimum of 37 million jobs in our industry, across the states and the FCT,” he said.
Speaking further, he said the initiative, when accomplished, would increase access to good potable water, good health, and food security, through the modern solar-powered irrigation infrastructure.
“In fact, without doubt, solar-powered irrigation infrastructure alone can create more than 50 million jobs nationwide, in just one year alone,” he said.
He expressed willingness to partner security agencies by donating solar-powered water boreholes.
