By Tajudeen Adebanjo
The Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos state chapter has donated boreholes to a mosque in Makoko and five communities in the state.
The five communities are located in Ojo, Alimosho, Apapa, Eti-Osa Local governments and Olorunda Local Council Development Area.
Its Amirah, Dr Halima Egberongbe, said the gesture was to mark World Water Day.
Dr Egberongbe spoke at Temitope Mosque, Makoko, Lagos, one of the beneficiaries of the water project.
The gesture, she said, was also to raise awareness of the global water crisis.
Quoting the United Nations, Dr Egberongbe said the significance of water was linked between household, culture, health, economics, and integrity of the environment.
“FOMWAN also observes that local population faces challenges of access to water as rivers are usually diverted into a pipe and underground, which also hurt the ecosystem,” she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to keep the water safe and make good use of it.
FOMWAN National Committee on Community Development and Humanitarian Services Chairperson, Alhaja Khairat Sodique, described water as a driving force for life’s circle.
“The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)/MBS report in 2019 said that 60 million Nigerians lack access to clean water, especially in the rural areas,” she said.
According to her, standing ponds, lakes, rivers were used for bathing, washing clothes and same for drinking water in many villages.
“It is also a known fact that in the few areas, we have a provision of clean water, women and girls carry the burden of getting the water for their households by travelling to far and unsafe places for it,” she said.
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