Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), and other stakeholders in the water and environment sector have called for restoration of degraded water bodies and wetlands in Nigeria.
HOMEF Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, in a statement signed by the Media/Communications Lead, Miss Kome Odhomor, on Friday, said with the massive destruction of water bodies by mining, oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, dredging activities and the development of infrastructure in critical freshwater ecosystems, the government must think of restoring the fresh waters bodies.
He said that as the world marks the World Water Day with the theme, Water for Peace, “it is important to state that peace becomes a mirage in the absence of justice.
“The enclosure, grabbing and privatization of water is antithetical to the principles of commons.”
According to Nnimmo, it is important that the rivers, creeks, lagoons, and oceans are treated sanely and not seen as waste dumps.
“This year’s theme, Water for Peace, shows the need to protect our water bodies with the understanding that lack of access to potable water is a harbinger of hunger and conflict. Valuing water must not be construed to mean that water can be commodified or privatized, but that the intrinsic value of this prime gift of Nature be respected and protected.
“Water is not a commodity for privatization. We must treat our waters with respect because water is life and access to clean; the right to safe water to meet daily needs is a fundamental human right.”
Bassey further noted that “beyond our need to secure our potable water sources, our entire aquatic ecosystems must be secured to promote cultural practices, preserve knowledge and enhance livelihoods especially for our fisher folks. Polluters must be adequately sanctioned.
“We must be mindful of the fact that plastics and toxic items dumped in our waters get eaten by fish and enter our food chain thereby endangering our own health. Water for peace should be a wake-up call to take responsibility for protecting our waterways and to oppose all forms of privatization of water.”
Also, Fishnet Alliance Coordinator, Stephen Oduware said although some international days have become rituals, World water day should be taken with all seriousness, culminating into real actions that suggest seriousness.
“While climate change can be blamed for droughts and related water crises faced in the world today, there have been direct interference with our water bodies causing pollution from the dumping of wastes and release of harmful chemicals from industries, including those in the petroleum sector, into our water bodies and intensify shortages of potable water. The intrinsic value of water cannot be over-emphasized because it is the basis of life forms on earth,” he said.
Ends
