The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF to find holistic solutions on how to tackle the effects of climate change in the water sector.
This is in recognition of the urgent need to address the pressing Sustainable Development challenge posed by Climate Change in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Sector.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof Joseph Terlumun Utsev, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shinkafi who revealed this while declaring the 3-day National Workshop on State Action Plan on Climate Change, organized by the Ministry in conjunction with United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, open on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to develop holistic solutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions and synthetic chemicals.
He noted that with Climate Change affecting various aspects of human endeavours, including food sources, infrastructure, livelihoods, and health, with profound and far-reaching implications for water resources and ecosystem degradation there is urgent need to take decisive action to mitigate the devastating its effects.
During the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, represented by Director Hydrology and Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Mukaila Babarinde highlighted the dire situation in Nigeria regarding access to basic hygiene services, emphasising the urgent need for action to address climate change impacts on water resources, given the evident vulnerabilities across the country.
UNICEF Chief of WASH, Dr. Jane Bevan, also highlighted the vulnerability of water resources in the face of climate change-induced extreme droughts, floods, and diseases like cholera due to higher temperatures.
