Lara Adejoro Following the recent devastating flood, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has embarked on a comprehensive assessment of the Alau Dam in Borno State to ascertain its integrity. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 World Rivers Day in Nigeria, with the theme “Waterways of Life” and the sub-theme “Protect Our Rivers from Pollution.
” The briefing preceded the symbolic tree planting and river clearing at Jabi Lake in Abuja. World Rivers Day is celebrated to highlight the importance of our rivers and promote active participation to ensure our waterways are protected worldwide. Globally, the event is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September every year.
However, since Sunday is a work-free day in Nigeria, the National Council on Water Resources approved that Monday should be observed as the day to mark the celebration. He said, “The overall objective of the global event is to stimulate immediate action towards responding to the various threats to our rivers. It is worth noting that rivers play a significant role in the water cycle, especially in the formation of rain.
They enhance the economic survival of any region and serve as a habitat for aquatic plants and animals. “We are marking this year’s celebration on a low key in consideration of the recent flood incident that ravaged parts of Nigeria’s forested areas on September 10, 2.