WE ARE COMMITTED TO HARMONIZING WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) POLICIES – LASG
………Joins Global Celebration of 2022 World Water Day
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday stated that it is committed to harmonising its Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policies to ensure coherence at all levels.
This was made known by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Engr. Nurudeen Shodeinde at a seminar organized in commemoration of the 2022 World Water Day celebration in Lagos State, saying that a review of the WASH policy is currently going on in Lagos State.
He said the theme for this year’s celebration ‘Groundwater: Making the invisible visible’ is apt as it aims to highlight the collective behavior of forgetting the importance of groundwater like many other elements of our planet that are not in plain sight but essential to human sustenance.
He added that this year’s campaign will explain the vital role of groundwater in Water and Sanitation system, Agriculture, Industry, Ecosystem and Climate Change adaptation.
“The message of this campaign is that protecting and sustainably exploiting groundwater will be central to surviving and adapting in a changing world and its environment as well as meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population”, he added.
He said that the diverse perspectives we hear today shows the multidimensional value of groundwater across sectors especially in a State like ours with its unique blend of aquatic and human interaction.
“It is in this view that the present administration led by Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu redesignated the erstwhile Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in recognition of the need for a firm institutional arrangement in the water sector. Our regulation of this sector is based on inclusiveness, building technical expertise and technology to create a robust structure capable of exploiting opportunities locally and internationally as well as tackling challenges in the sector” he said.
Shodeinde who was represented by the Director Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Engr Manmood Adebite stressed that protecting and sustainably exploiting groundwater will be central to surviving and adapting in a changing world and its environment as well as meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population.
He explained that the regulation of the sector is based on inclusiveness, building technical expertise and technology to create a robust structure capable of exploiting opportunities locally and internationally as well as tackling challenges in the sector.
He said modern technologies are adopted to optimize water usage and the Government is building synergy with WaterAid Nigeria, the professionals and the academia as evident in this year celebration.
“Our doors still remains open for partnership with corporate organizations, development partners and professional bodies in achieving the goal of water for all (SDG 6)” he said
The Permanent Secretary said the State Government called for collaboration from the private sector, the drive of the civil society organization and the solidarity of the International Community in tackling the many challenges in the water sector.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Water Resources Department, Engr. Omolanke Taiwo said although groundwater is out of sight but its value to human survival cannot be over emphasized.
She said the Water Sector in Lagos State needs the academia, more than ever before most especially in the review of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Policy that is on-going.
She added that the Ministry in terms of research on groundwater management is collaborating with Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geology Departments of University of Lagos (Unilag) and also welcome all studies and research in terms of data gathering that can assist the State in policy making.
The representative of WaterAid Nigeria in a goodwill message, Mrs. Nambam Michaels explained that as human activities such as industrialization, waste management, population growth and climate variability intensifies, the threat to quality and quantity groundwater available for sustainable development also increases.
She stressed that there is need for concerted efforts for effective management of the groundwater because making the invisible visible in an increasingly competitive environment requires processes, technologies for extraction and distribution of water which if not monitored could jeopardize people’s health and means of livelihood
The President , Nigerian Water Sanitation Association, Engr. Peter Onyeri said water is everywhere and still scarce in certain areas adding
that lot of people have no respect for water because the water they waste is higher than the one in use.
He said Sanitation and Water Management solely rest on engineering but all professionals need to come together to achieve the goal in the water sector because it involves putting in use various technologies
Signed
Kunle Adeshina
Director (Public Affairs)
MOE &WR
March 22, 2022
L-R: Guest Lecturer, Prof. Abiodun Odukoya, Representative Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Service and director, Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite, Director, Water Resources Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Lanke Taiwo, and Representative WaterAid Nigeria, Mrs. Nambam Michaels, during the year 2022 World Water Day celebrations, held on the 22nd of March, 2022, held at Rauf Aregbesola Engineering Center, Pen Cinema, Agege,Lagos.