To drive the process of achieving water and related issues down to the grassroot,a University Lecturer , Dr Emma Ezenwaji has called on the state government to key into federal government programmes aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Six, which focuses on achieving water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Dr Ezenwaji made the call while speaking with ABS Correspondent Joseph Egbeocha on the 2022 edition of world water day, which the United Nations mapped out in 1993 to enable members look into water crisis in the third world countries, where reports say water scarcity is giving rise to water borne diseases, hence, reducing human population.
Dr Ezenwaji, who is the Director, Centre for National Water Resources Capacity Building Network and Climate Change Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, bemoaned increasing scarcity of water in the third world countries, and observed that absence of functional local government system in some states in Nigeria, where programmes on water and related issues are domiciled is a drawback to achieving the sustainable development goal.
He called on Anambra State Government to develop water supply plan to ascertain areas of the state that suffer scarcity of the commodity and take actions that will improve supply.
Dr Ezenwaji called for enforcement of laws and further legislations, when necessary, in order to ensure safety of environment and public health by addressing indiscriminate siting of boreholes, especially near toilets, graves and or heaps of refuse.
On how people can assist in achieving the United Nations’ set goal, Dr Ezenwaji said in addition to the federal government and university senate approving academic programme on water sanitation and hygiene, the center at the university has also developed academic programmes that will enable artisans upgrade their knowledge and skills in water resources and management, urging government to support training of village-level operation and maintenance personnel on how to maintain water and sanitation facilities, as well as domesticate same for more grassroot impact.
The focus of the 2022 edition of World Water Day is “Ground water, making the invisible visible”.
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