The Ogun State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, has described sustainability of water supply as a catalyst for peace.
Mr. Fagbohun stated this during the celebration of 2024 World Water Day, with the theme, “Leveraging Water for Peace” organised by the Ministry of Environment, in conjunction with Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) and Nestle Plc, at Obas’ Complex, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Fagbohun said irregularities in the distribution of water resources and risk of shortage, were some of the factors that used to cause tension and conflicts between tribes, communities, states and nations, while lack of potable water could spell doom to human existence.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Mr. Oladipupo Ogunfowora, the HoS, noted that water is life, adding that the United Nations declared its annual celebration, to reflect on how collective existence and human survival, including other living things could access clean water.
Speaking, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, noted that the importance of water could not be over-emphasised.
“Water can create peace or spark chaos or crisis; when water is scarce or polluted or when people have unequal or no access to water, tension arises.
“Population grows and as climate change impact increases, there is an urgent need within and between countries to unite by protecting and conserving the most precious resource, water”, he said.
The Commissioner charged relevant agencies, industries, commercial facilities, academia, investors, drillers and individuals at all levels, to act on the ripple effects of water scarcity, in order to foster harmony, posterity and resilience.
Presenting a paper on the theme of the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ogun-Oshun RBDA, Otunba Eng. Olufemi Odumosu, informed that in the last seven years, the organisation had been able to drill 743 boreholes in different locations across Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo States, calling on all sectors to accelerate progress in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Sam Oyeleye, who said water was crucial to life, urged stakeholders to brainstorm on how to resolve the challenges of quality, accessible water through effective water governance.
In their separate remarks, representatives of Nestle Plc, Sustainability Manager, Chinwe Obi; Meslo Molesh Company, Mr. Bharat Bucchand, appreciated the state government for providing potable water for its citizens and encouraging commercialisation of water production through hygienic processes.
