The Nation Newspaper

Tag: water

  • Association tackles water pollution

    The Association of Water Drillers and Rig-owners Practitioners (AWDROP) has announced its resolve to monitor government projects across the country to raise the quality of water being produced for consumption.

    The association’s National President, Mr. Michael Ale, revealed this during a press conference organised for borehole drillers at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    “Many boreholes drilled in Nigeria by non-professionals have contaminated our most precious underground resources, thus resulting in illness for many innocent Nigerians.

    “Failure to coordinate activities of borehole drilling in Nigeria through non-implementation of regulatory instrument, encouraged uncoordinated pricing and use of substandard materials to the disadvantage of unsuspecting and ill-informed customers, Ale said.

    He continued: “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources, with the assistance of many stakeholders, including Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has put up code of practice for borehole drilling in Nigeria and the document remains the valid guiding code for drilling companies in Nigeria.

    “AWDROP accepted the adoption of the implementation of the code for drilling companies, thus setting standard for their operation.’’

    Ale emphasised the need to implement the practice to avoid unnecessary waste of scarce resources over several moribund boreholes lingering the country, noting that “several government’s borehole projects have failed because of weak supervision and non-implementation of the code of practice by the contracting agent”.

    The AWDROP President noted: “The implementation of code of practice for all borehole operators was important for sustainable quality water provision in Nigeria. There is the need to partner with all stakeholders involved in drilling practices to imbibe the culture and practice of good design and safety during operation.”

    He reiterated that all boreholes being contracted out by the development partners and government alike would, henceforth, be monitored by AWDROP task force on code of practice for efficient and effective supervision, as borehole is not only about drilling or contracting but designed for good safety and health impact and proper handing over.

    Ale maintained that several borehole projects by the development partners and government alike have failed in the past but with the implementation of the code of practice document, borehole projects are set to come alive again.ý

    In view of this, two new buses have been donated by the association to strengthen the national task force as ratified by the national council of water resources during the last council meeting in Kaduna.

  • Humility, water thy name is Sweden

    Humility, water thy name is Sweden

    Statistics favour Sweden, the Scandinavian country with a GDP of $570.40b. A recent survey also indicated that it is the third best country to raise a family, with almost zero crime rate and easy life. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye, visited Stockholm, the capital city and reports on life where  life’s luxuries are taken for granted.

    “Put the money here, money here, please,” the destitute said in stuttering English. He extended a small bowl which was full of coins to passersby and wore a look enough to soften a lion to part with at least a part of his dinner for this hungry son of earth.

    Nearby his family slept on a bed, which from the impression of poverty he created looked really comfortable, mother and two children devour a hearty meal of fish and other things I could not comprehend. By the side, other families pitched their beds, ready for the night, the streets of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, the rich and fabulous Scandinavian country is their home.

    But if you think this is all about Stockholm, perish the thought. The city which has endured for many centuries is one of the most developed and peaceful cities in the world. In August, it played host to the World Water Week (WWW) organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and an opportunity to showcase to the world why the city has one of the least crime rates in the world and one of the best places to raise a family.

    The city of water

    The Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Stefan Lofven, a man of fine stature and well made hair loves to boast about Stockholm.  He described the city as that of water where “one can take a swim or go fishing right in the middle of the city.”

    The Swedes are proud of their water and Stockholm has been described as the city of water where one can drink from any of the water fountains scattered all over the city. If you had lived in Africa or North America, one would find the attitude of the Swedes to drinking water impossible.

    The Swedes would be very angry if you buy bottled water to drink, they echoed the opinion of their Prime Minister that the water in Stockholm taps is good for drinking. In restaurants, they hardly sell carbonated drinks and they never sell bottled water, water is taken from the rap into a jug from where everyone drinks.  Afraid not to offend, one is obliged to drink not without some hesitation, “Drink up, drink up, this is Sweden, our water is number one,” Vikky, a Chinese woman said. Seeing that I was shaking and unconvinced, another man placed a hand on my shoulder and in a very compassionate and assuring voice said “I promise you, this water is safe.”

    But that is nothing compared to this piece of information; “If you need to drink water, you can drink the water in your bathroom; it is very safe for drinking.” One of the iconic water scenes in Stockholm is the Klara Sjo, which was once a lake but had now been made into a 35 metre wide canal with boats for anyone interested in water transportation. The Klara Sjo is adjacent to the city hall and it is a spectacular sight in the afternoon sun. Standing on top of the bridge, one can see speed boats racing on the water, but it was evident many use the river as sport than for real transportation.

    The shore of Klara Sjo with its lawns, weeping willows and wooden jetty is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city. By the shore too is the Blekholmen restaurant, a part of which was built on the river, in the summer, business booms as residents enjoy an outing in a restaurant on the river with boats speeding by.

    I took the words of the Prime Minister literarily and went in search of fountains to drink from and also lakes to fish in.  Starting from the fountain at the City Conference Centre in Drottninggatan, sipping a cup directly from the fountain, I discovered that true to the words of Mr. Lofven, the fountains in Stockholm are clean enough to drink.

     I went to Riksgatan, which is the centre of power and the seat of the Parliament, a bridge connected Drottninggatan to the parliament houses and royal palaces which incredible are open to the public. Right in front of it is a river where citizens are free to fish at anytime.

    Louis Quinze, who teaches English and French and who comes to fish three times a week said it was a hobby he had maintained for many years. But it has not been a good season for fishing and the weather has gone to hell. Quize has not been lucky, catching only a tiny tilapia after many hours of fishing.

    “It is not good season this year, the weather is bad and fishing needs stable weather, so we have not been catching many fishes. But this morning, I caught a very large one about 30kilograms, it was so big, it cut the line and escape,” he said.

    Easy life

    The Swedes lead a very easy and uncomplicated life, for those who are fortunate enough to be born into this prosperous country, life couldn’t have been more fortunate. Although a democracy, the country also operates a welfare system that has ensured that the difference between the rich and the poor is almost non-existent.  It is this easy and contented lifestyle which has made it one of the most livable countries in the world. In the mornings, residents of Stockholm could be seen mostly riding to their offices and they go about their work without any fuss.

    In the city centre, there was none of the hustle and bustle usually associated with cities like Lagos or New York, instead, bicycle riders rode alongside the most expensive cars in the world. Stockholm is devoid of the chaos of Lagos or the anxiety of New York, instead everyone looks peaceful and one could tell that life is good.

    This good life is what led thousands of Nigerians to the shores of the country where many have prospered and a great number have found ruin too. But Charles Omobude who has been in the country for about two decades is one of the more inspiring stories. From a humble beginning, he has educated himself to becoming a water engineer.

    Sweden, unlike many other European countries still have job opportunities for immigrants, this has made it an attractive destination for many Africans. In the past when education was free and easy, many Africans took advantage of it to get legal status. But this opportunity was abused with many getting resident visas using fake university degrees. “When they come here and can’t perform based on the qualification they presented for admission, they destroy the opportunity for the others. In Sweden, if you are not educated you will rot in odd jobs,” Omobude said.

    Now, life is hard for the half educated immigrant with the life saving menial jobs now going to Romanian immigrants who are daily becoming a blight on the city’s skylines. Omobude said, “the most common jobs for Nigerians are driving taxis and distributing newspapers in the morning.”

    He would not advice anyone without any tangible thing to do to come to Sweden. “If you don’t have anything to do, please stay away from Sweden. If you come here hoping to hustle, you will be disappointed, there is nothing to hustle here.”

     The activities of some Nigerians have cast aspersions on the country generally but this is changing with the new direction being giving by President Muhammadu Buhari. At the Nigerian Embassy, a top official who does not want to be named said the President’s anti corruption drive is helping in changing perspectives about Nigeria.

    Omobude agreed. “Now we have Swedes asking more about Nigeria and saying they love what is happening now.  We like what the President is doing. It is elevating our reputation, in four years we will be at the top. This is what we are hoping that Nigeria can settle so that we can all come home.”

    The Association of Nigerians in Sweden, which is the union of Nigerians living there, also believes that the impact of the present administration is helping to burnish the image of Nigerians in the country. “The new government is the change we are all waiting for, we pray that it turns out to be positive,” Dominic Emene, the president said.

    But every blue sky must have a dark cloud, so is the story of the Romanians in Stockholm, fleeing poverty in their country, they have flooded Sweden constituting a nuisance to the cities. In Stockholm, they are seen in the day hanging around street corners begging for money. In the night, the walkways become their sleeping room with families and children bringing out their beds-hidden in train stations during the day- and duvets, sleeping on the pavements.

    Some are seen eating hearty dinner in the open, the whole family eating from one plate. I learnt that the government had done its best to return the destitute to their country with cash rewards which could have set them up in business. But they come right back after lavishing the money, mostly on frivolities to take their place on the pavements of Stockholm.

    Rich country, humble people

    Despite its status as a rich and important country, the people of Sweden are very humble. For instance, the opening plenary of the World Water Week had the Prime Minister Mr. Stefan Lofven, in attendance. But no one would have noticed that the most powerful man in the country is among the crowd, there were no obvious armed security details- save for two bodyguards-, no siren blaring policemen and no uncontrolled photographers struggling to take a picture of him or the other dignitaries present.

    Sweden’s royals are not left out of this down to earth attitude. At an event which had King Carl XV1 Gustaf and his daughter, Crown Princess of Victoria, Duchess of Vastergotland, they arrived without any fanfare. A day earlier, I had seen the Crown Princess at the Grand Hotel; we were only required to stand up for the royal to take her seat, apart from that nothing distinguished her from the rest of us.  I stood by the road to see how many cars would be in her convoy and was disappointed to count only four and almost devastated to see her security details included two policemen armed with pistols.

    Humility is however not the exclusive preserve of the rich and mighty in Sweden, it is seen in the average citizen. All over the city, the humility of the people is felt in their walks and stores especially at Drottninggattan which caters to the rich and in a manner of speaking the poor.

    If the simplicity and gentleness of the Swedes rattles you, wait for this.  Across the bridge from Riksgatan is Stromgattan road. Looking at this narrow street, it seems insignificant save that it faces the road to the parliament. However, the first house on the street had a Swedish flag flying on it, it was the Prime Ministers house.

    There is no visitor who did not find this unbelievable, I did a quick scan and discovered save for the flag, nothing registers the house as that of the Prime Minister. Traffic moved easily with people passing in front of it. The main door also opened to the street, if the Minister must gain entry into his house, he would be compelled to do so in the presence of the crowd and the fishermen.  There were no armed guards around the building and the house built in the fashion of most European houses was joined with others.

    I dashed to the main entrance and listened for any sound, all was quiet; it was an unbelievable experience. A new feeling took over me but I resisted the urge to knock on the door and ask “Mr. Prime Minister, are you at home?”

  • Alumnus donates water tank to school

    A renowned philanthropist in Oshodi, Lagos, Mr Benjamin Eweoya, has donated a water tank to pupils of St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Oshodi.

    Obadara, who beamed with smiles all through the inauguration of the project at the school premises, attributed his gesture to his appetite for selfless service.

    Headmistress of the School, Mrs Olufunmilayo Obadara, said   the former water tank and scaffolding collapsed a long time ago, making the school to run without water for sanitary and drinking purposes

    She described the project as a ‘big relief’, noting that young pupils needed water for so many things to accomplish some of their objectives.

    Eweoya, a son of a teacher and an alumnus (82’ Set), said this was not his first project in the community and the school. As an alumnus, Eweoya said he had embarked on projects, such as free reading classes as well as donations of text books to pupils in his alma mater.

    “I am very excited today because a remarkable project such as this has happened during my tenure in a short period of time. I know this is the beginning and more is coming from other privileged individuals. We cannot wait for the government to do it all,” Obadara said.

    Eweoya, who was also very happy at the level of accomplishment of the project, urged all to give government more support. He emphasised on the need for leaders to lend a helping hand to young generations.

    “I feel very good to be able to give back to my community. What motivated me to embark on this project was the spirit of parenthood and not because I am a community donor. My relationship with young pupils is intact because they are the ones to point out the things that we did or we didn’t do; but it is unfortunate that none of our leaders today are particular about that.”

    To Jibola Badu, a Primary Four pupil in the school, the new tank would afford him to wash his clothes which often gets messy at the close of school.

    “I am very happy because I would not be punished at home for coming home dirty. I can now clean up before going home,” he said.

     

  • Navy Sailing Club to comply with govt directive on water sport

     

    The Navy Sailing Club has said it will comply with the directive of President Mohammadu Buhari to develop water sports in Nigeria so as to enable the country challenge for top spot at international competitions.

    Commodore of the club, Tunde Daramola stated that the President’s call to develop swimming in the country also applied to other water sports, which have potential of winning multiple gold medals for the country at international events.

    Speaking at the Independence Sailing Race at the Navy Cantonment, Satellite Town, Daramola said the club was taking the President’s directive seriously by training and organising tournaments for athletes.

    He noted that the first step was to catch them young, while races would be lined up for the sailors and athletes who take part in open water swimming. “It is a continuous process in terms of training. We need to ensure the athletes get enough experience and have confidence on water.

    “Many people consider water sports as dangerous,that is why we are catching them young, expose them to water and see how well they do at national and international competitions in the hope that they become world class athletes,” Daramola said.

    The Commodore, however, lamented that the major problem facing the sports were sponsorship, technical support and equipment.  He said the manpower was available and called on corporate organisations to support water sports in the country.

    The special guest of honour, Major General Adewole Jemitola said he was encouraged by the drive of the club to discover and nurture young talents. He stated that the efforts of the club in training leaders in water sports would help Nigeria attain glory in sailing, swimming and other related sports.

    To make sailing popular, Jemitola stated that sponsors must identify with the sport by backing it with funds. He also called on the managers of the sport to go to schools and catch the talents at a young age.

    “All my expectations have been met at this race. The environment is good, the water is clear, while the sailors have also done well. And staging the tournament on Independence Day will enable people to come and watch, thereby boosting the drive to make the sport popular,”he said.

  • Solidarity for a water wise world

    Solidarity for a water wise world


    Global leaders gathered in Stockholm in August to find solutions to increasingly decreasing global access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. Assistant editor, Seun Akioye who was at the conference reports

    There were many questions that dominated discussions at the recently concluded World Water Week (WWW), organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in Stockholm, Sweden. Should water be free, how do we balance the provision of affordable water supply against the notion of water as human rights and what is the relationship between water and climate change?
    The WWW which has been organized every year celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, it was a milestone conference according to Torgny Holmgren, the Executive Director of SIWI who acknowledged that there is a greater awareness about the importance and the central role water plays in development. That informed the theme for this year’s conference: “Water for Development.”
    The United Nations recognized this fact when in drafting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is aimed to build on the global achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), proposed in goal six that : “ By 2030, universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, and access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable positions.”
    Holmgren said the role of water in the development of nations cannot be underestimated as it is the foundation for all aspect of human progress. “From the Horn of Africa, over the Sahel, to São Paulo, California and China, people’s perseverance is being tested. We can no longer take a steady water supply for granted. The many local water crises today combine into a severe global water situation of great concern to all of us,” Holmgren said at the opening plenary.

    A grim statistic
    There were grim statistics relating to water supply especially in sub Saharan Africa and Asia. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2015, around 748 million people globally still lack access to improved water supply while water demand for manufacturing is expected to rise by400 percent between 2000 and 2050 globally.
    Further to this is the growing concern about population growth and rural urban movement which has been a major contributor to water stress. A higher rate of urbanization leads to increased competition between agricultural, industrial and municipal water use. Growing cities in Africa and Asia will need to provide services to 70 million more people each year for the next 20 years further increasing the challenges of providing access to water supply and sanitation.
    Adding to this depressing news is the fact that groundwater supply is diminishing with an estimated 20 percent of the world’s aquifers currently over-exploited and 52 countries are currently under water stress.
    Water and climate change
    For the scientists, water experts, policy makers and activists, the most critical aspect of discussions at the conference was getting the water agenda into discussions at the Climate Change, Conference of Parties 21 which will hold in Paris, France in December. According to Holmgren, water is so critical to climate change that it is a shock it is yet to be on the policy agenda of climate change talks.
    “ Water needs to be part of climate negotiations because the larger impact of climate change will be felt through water. Focus should be changing from energy to water and when we look at the Sustainable Development Goals, we see that water is related to many of the goals. Water efficiency should be as common as energy efficiency,” he said.
    The conference has reasons to be worried about climate change and water. Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, progression of drought all associated with climate change has negative impact on water supply.
    At the opening plenary, the President of Marshal Islands, Christopher Loeak broke the hearts of the participants when he painted a picture of the wreckage climate change has caused in his country. “ There is no issue in the world that is closer to my heart than the issue of water. We are a small country quite literarily contemplating a future where we are being wiped off the world map. Yet, as the leader of my country, I cannot look my people in the eye and in good conscience say that everything will be ok, when I know the world continues to travel down a destructive part,” Loeak said.
    The people understood the enormity of Loeak’s statement. Marshall Islands consists of more than a thousand small islands sitting at an average of two metres above sea level. Loeak said water surrounds his country and sustains its economy with fishing being the main source of income. Ironically, the water that sustains the Marshallese economy is now threatening to its very existence.
    For Karin Lexen, director of the WWW, integrated water resource management is central to the implementation of the SDGs. “ Water scarcity posses significant risk to every sector and efforts to mitigate climate change needs to be addressed with water issues, implementing climate change policies will involve increasing water infrastructure,” she said.
    Prof. Benedito Braga, Secretary of State for Sanitation and Water resources for the state of Sao Paulo Brazil said while the impacts of climate change will be felt to the greatest degree in water, its adaptation should be central to t he climate debate. He urged the conference to be more focused on the Action Day during COP 21 to press home demands for the inclusion of water in climate debate.

    African governments and Water Policy failure
    There are few cheering news coming from the African continent however, this was the submission of African Ministers of Water at the Africa Focus Day which had the theme: “ Water Resources and Sanitation Management in Africa.” The Ministers said Africa has failed to meet its objectives in terms of water and the MDGs. Already about 488million people still lack access to sanitation and 200million do not have safe clean water. According to Amadou Faye, Minister for Hydraulic and Sanitation, Senegal, Africa must establish a harmonized monitoring and reporting system for water sector.
    Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, Minister for Water and Irrigation, Kenya told The Nation : “ What we want to do is persuade our government to invest more in water and irrigation sector. From Abuja to Maputo declaration, we want to put aside 15percent of our national budget on health for water.”
    Wamalwa said more investment in water will lead to great savings in the health and security sector. “The time has come to walk the talk and direct the focus on water,” he said. However, the issue of water pricing remains a major debate among the stakeholders with consensus favouring providing infrastructure for water management, creating innovations that would reduce water use and support entrepreneurs that will create new technology.
    The general impression from the participants is towards the provision of affordable clean water . “Water is a right, but we need to pay for our right,” says one participant. According to Wamalwa, for water to be available, it must be paid for. “ Nothing is free or should be free, we must pay and make it affordable and accessible through the development of our infrastructures, this is not about free water, but affordable water.”
    Walk for water, mingle and dance and other events
    On Monday August 24, 2015, Stockholm Water Prize winner Rajendra Singh led delegates to the conference on a two kilometre walk from the City Conference Centre to the City Hall. The walk which was termed World Water Walk for Peace is to” raise awareness so that young people can learn how to pay respect to water, love it and understand the relation between human health and water health,” Singh said.
    But if the walk appears too strenuous for you, the night of mingle and dancing would be the perfect remedy. A stand in band named “The Visitors” which sings only songs from Swedish Pop group ABBA treated the delegates to an unforgettable night of music.
    Nigerian delegates to the conference include officials from the Ministry of Water Resources, members of the academia and water activists. Mrs. Temitope Adeniji Adele, Deputy Director, Water Supply said Nigeria will take the matter of the SDG more seriously as water is highlighted. “ We need to develop an indicator that will measure drinking water and sanitation, we will be going back home with a view to take charge of the whole water sector,” she said.
    Also Adeyinka Oludiran, Programme Director Wateraid Nigeria said participation at the conference should help deepen knowledge especially for policy makers and take charge of policies and programmes in Nigeria’s water sector.
    For Babatope Babalobi, a water activist, about 60 percent of patients in sub Saharan Africa are suffering water borne diseases. “ So if we can provide access to safe water in Nigeria, incidences of water borne diseases should be prevented and we can depopulate our hospitals up to 60 percent.”
    The meeting ended with much optimism which is captured in the goals set by Holmgren: “ It is my goal that in 25 years from now, we will no longer talk about global water crisis.”

  • Ministry of Water Resources to pay arrears

    Ministry of Water Resources to pay arrears

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Musa Istifanus, on Wednesday said the ministry had started working on the payment of promotional arrears for workers.

    Istifanus said this in an interview in response to protest by workers over unpaid arrears.

    The workers on Tuesday protested against lack of training, unpaid promotional arrears as well as the running of the ministry by Mr. Istifanus.

    But the permanent secretary dismissed the allegations against him, adding that the workers were protesting because he refused to approve Sallah package for them.

    He said one, out of the three persons owed promotional arrears had been paid, adding that the ministry would reprocess the other two before they could be paid.

    He said: “In respect to promotional arrears there were three batches one has been paid. But the other two could not go through to the Budget Office because it was a blanket request. Usually if you want to pay promotional arrears you attach evidence of the approval for the promotion from the commission, the list of officers affected and the grade level they are moving from and the state they are moving from and the distress that will arise as a result of that. You send this to internal audit for audit purpose and you must attach this computation sheet before you submit to budget office.

    “When I requested to take a look at the three issues only one of them actually met this requirement the other two was a blanket request and budget office could not have approved something like that. As it is now we have to reprocess the other two arrears. But one of them that went through the normal process has been paid since early this year.

    “I do know that starting from about two years ago most training was for every staff. The money that is available cannot train all the staff in one year. So what is being done is to train a portion of the staff in a particular year and another staff in the next year until all the staffs has been covered and then they come back and repeat the same process. If ten years the officer has not been trained it means he was not in our nominal rule.”

  • Water: The search for life’s essential liquid

    Water: The search for life’s essential liquid

    What is the place of water in life and sanitation? This and other issues were recently tackled at a two-day seminar in Lagos. Olayinka Oyegbile was there.

    From time immemorial, water availability and access of man to this essential commodity of life have dictated where human beings pitch their tent to eke out a living. In biblical times, it was beside a well while in search of the liquid that Isaac got a wife to marry. This in essence demonstrates how water is important to the sojourn of man on earth.

    It is in this same fashion that many coastal cities in the world today are more populated than those located in the desert where access to water is more challenging. The Nigerian novelist Elechi Amadi in his novel The Great Pond made access to water the main focus of his novel. In the novel, water is the central theme although the real issue is to prevent the other village from fishing from a pond. Water is the centre of life, without its availability life is endangered and lead to epidemic.

    Out of reach

    The recent move around the globe by the World Bank and some governments to privatise public water supply has therefore continued to get the kick from the civil society and activists who are of the opinion that privatizing water supply would take this essential commodity of life out of the reach of the common man across the world.

    It is against this background that the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) recently hosted a two-day Lagos Water summit to examine the plan by the state government to privatise the commodity in the state. Availability of water became more of concern to many people around the globe because it was in the same week of the summit that the picture of the wife of one of the richest men in the world, Belinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates), made the front cover of many newspapers and magazines when she travelled to Malawi and went to a village river to fetch water and have a feel of what it was for an average African woman to get water from the stream or river for her daily chores.

    In his keynote address at the summit, renowned environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey said, “Undeniably, water is an essential right without which no other right can be enjoyed. This is so because water is the basis of life. Every human person needs water in sufficient quantities to live and do so in dignity.” He recalled that the United Nations had in 2010 at its general Assembly recognized that the right to safe and clean water and sanitation is a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life.

    He emphasized that avoidable deaths and diseases have continued to dog the human race due to the lack of adequate water. While condemning the race to privatise water across the globe, he noted that this gale of privatization have been reversed in countries such as Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, Mali, France and Indonesia and wondered why other countries’ governments are bent on going on a route that had proved to be failures in other climes. He called for the absolute rejection of water privatization in the country.

    On his part, the executive director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Ojo, the host said the “wave of globalization and natural resource privatization is leading to the commodification of water especially in developing countries.” It is this “commodification” that he called on all to resist and not allow it to take water away from the table of the proverbial common man.

    The summit which was attended by labour leaders and activists both at home and abroad had resource persons from Philippines, United States, Argentina who gave testimonies of the failure of the privatization of water in their countries. It was generally agreed that privatization is not in any way a cure-all solution to the issue of lack of water.

    The campaign was endorsed by about twenty three members of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States of America who sent a letter of solidarity to Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi of ERA/FoEN. In their message they observed, “When people cannot access or afford clean water, the impact on their health and livelihood is devastating. As you know all too well, these circumstances force families to make painful economic choices.” They added that the protection of public good should be transparent in issues of water provision “we wish to express our solidarity with the people of Lagos and of cities around the world as they raise their voices in support of public water, participatory governance, and universal access.” Among the Black Congressional Caucaus members who signed the lteer are John Conyers, Jr., Karan Bass, Emmanuel Cleaper II, Charles B. Rangel and others.

    But whatever is decided on the privatization of water, what is of importance to Mama Joy in Ajegunle, Iya Taofik in Alagbado is for water, clean one at that to be available for her to take care of her house chores. Expatiating on why ERA decided to organize the summit, Ojo said, “Well, the Lagos Water Summit is a metaphor for the resistance against water privatization in Lagos and Nigeria and on a global scale. We are highly worried with the way global capital is seeking profits and they have identified the Lagos population as a good mine where they will invest on raking money. It is not about enhancing water supply to the people but rather about where capital will make investments and maximization of profit and that is what we are against.”

    He believes that the summit has provided a firm foundation to resist water privatization not only in Lagos but across the country. He promised that what was agreed on at the summit would be pursued doggedly to ensure potable water is made available to all citizens.

    The two-day summit received solidarity messages from notable civil society actors and policy stakeholders. These include Dr. Wale Okediran and Uche Onyeagucha former members of the House of Representatives, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Centre (CISLAC) and Ms. Joe Odumakin, Chairperson of Women Arise for Change Initiative. At the international front Greg Akili, Project Coordinator, Corporate Accountability International (CAI); Priscilla Achakpa, Executive Director of Women Environmental Programme; Sani Baba of Public Service International (PSI), and Shayda Naficy of Corporate Accountability International attended and  identified with the cause.  At the end of the summit, the formation of an Africa Coalition Against Water Privatisation was formed to galvanise a network of civil society and development experts to promoting access to potable water a human rights issue. This initiative will address the challenges of governance, human rights and corruption in the water sector across the African continent.

    The two-day summit was organised in partnership with Corporate Accountability International, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Public Services International (PSI), Transnational Institute, Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development, and Freedom from Debt Coalition.

  • Scientists harp on quality water for research, analysis, others

    Scientists harp on quality water for research, analysis, others

    Scientists have called on laboratory attendants to use quality water in their analysis and other investigations.

    They said the use of impure water leads to wrong results because there are various contaminants in unpurified water.

    The experts, who spoke at a workshop, tagged the Laboratory Water Academy (LWA), organised by the National Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), Katchey Company Limited and Merck Millipore in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, stressed the importance of water as the most used re-agent in the laboratory.

    NISLT’s Director-General, Dr Ighodalo Ijagbone, said water is an essential chemical used in the laboratory as it constitutes about 85 per cent of chemical constituents.

    “So, the quality of water matters to what scientists do in the laboratory if they are to get the right result. For example, if bad water is used for investigation that may be of clinical value, such as diagnosing the cause of a disease, there is no way one can get good result for the doctors to treat the patient effectively,” he said.

    He continued: “This is why the experts from Merck are trying to build our capacity so that we can produce quality water that is fitting for the laboratory.

    “The water used in the laboratory is quite different from portable drinking water because it was purified through a system, which is higher than that of drinking water.”

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Katchey Company Limited, Mrs Kate Isa, said some laboratories do cut corners by using impure or poor quality water for analysis without thinking of the consequences.

    “When an analyst uses air condition water or bottled water for analysis because it is cheaper, he or she would not get the right result. The result may be  false, positive or negative, which means that bad products may be released into the market. And this may hurt the people. If the said products are traced back to the company that produced them, it can be shut. In the long run, it is very costly as it may affect the company’s reputation and also damage its equipment. This is because the company used water, which has contaminants. The consumables will also not last,” she said.

    She said Merck Millipore is also interested in strengthening the capacity of regulatory companies because it would ensure that special products are made so that people are well served.

    Mrs Isa charged the Federal Government to put in place economic policies that will encourage investors, especially in laboratory sciences.

    Director of Marketing, Merck Millipore, Dr. Maurice Memme, said the training was significant because water is crucial to everything scientists do in the labs.

    Memme, who spoke on water purification solution for labs, said there could not be accurate results from research or labs’work or application without clean water.

    Memme, who is in-charge of Water Purification in East Europe/Middle East/Africa, said if people use unpurified water, which of course have twice the quantities of metal in it to grow cells or to do in-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) people will never get result.

    “The metals will inhibit all the reactions that are backing the cells’ growth and division. This will give scientists wrong result,” he said.

    He spoke of water being categorised according to their level of purity, adding: “Type-one water is the most pure water, which people can have and use for all serious applications in the laboratory. Also, there is type-two water, which is used in the vast majority of analytical researches. Type three is less clean and it is for general laboratory use, eg, washing machine.”

    Distillation alone, he said, cannot produce pure water.

    This, he said, is because the quantity of distilled water, if measured, is five times lower than water gotten through the purification system.

    “People cannot rely on one technology if they want to produce pure water,” he said.

    He said Nigeria is ripe to have laboratory water at every point in time, adding that there are established water purification system plants already.

    “We have eight water purification systems/units working at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” he said.

    Memme said there was the need for effective regulation of labs water, adding that it would ensure that only quality water is used for experiments in the labs.

  • Nigeria to benefit from $47m UNESCO water study

    @seunakioye

    Nigeria is among 16 countries that would benefit from a ground breaking research on Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater Reuse.
    The project is a collaboration between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
    The project titled: “Characterization of pharmaceutical pollution in the aquatic environment of Nigeria and their potential ecotoxicological effects”, is being implemented by Lagos State University and involves a scientific study into pollution of the Lagos Lagoon.
    It began in July 2015 and would end in the first quarter of 2016.
    According to Claire Lynga, a research advisor at SIDA, the project is estimated to cost about $47 million over four years.
    She said the issue of wastewater reuse is becoming a popular phenomenon globally and thus important that major research be carried out on the problems of pollution.
    Programme Specialist , International Hydrological Programme at UNESCO, Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa said the ground breaking project aims to support UNESCO Member States to strengthen their scientific research and technical capacities to manage human health and environmental risks caused by new and emerging pollutants in developing countries.
    Zandaryaa, who spoke at the sidelines of the World Water Week in Stockholm said new and emerging water pollutants include broad range of substances, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, domestic and industrial chemicals.
    ” These pollutants are released to water bodies and the environment because they are usually not removed in conventional wastewater treatment facilities. Scientific knowledge and understanding on potential human and ecosystem health risks posed by emerging water pollutants is still very scarce as well as their presence in water resources,” Zandaryaa said.
    She said the Lagos Lagoon was identified as a major source of livelihood for thousands of fishermen in Lagos and pollution of the lagoon will have a negative impact on thousands of people who depended on it.
    Zandaryaa said at the conclusion of the project, UNESCO will put pressure on policy makers to address all the problems that have been identified.
    “ What we intend to do is that as soon as we have scientific evidence about the pollution in the Lagos Lagoon, we will put pressure on police makers on what is needed to be done to reverse the trend,” she said.

  • I’ve seen much of the world working on water -NIWA MD Danladi Ibrahim

    I’ve seen much of the world working on water -NIWA MD Danladi Ibrahim

    Two months ago, Barrister Danladi Ibrahim mounted the saddle as the Acting Managing Director of Lokoja-based National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). But rather than throw a lavish party like such appointees are wont to do, he immediately went to work, knowing that he is confronted with the enormous task of transforming the waterways and make them not just economically vibrant but also ease the problem of transportation and movement of goods across the country. He told PAUL UKPABIO that he is an old war horse who has got what it takes to overcome the challenge, having worked in the water for 17 years. The lawyer and former banker also shares his lifestyle. 

    You have been in the maritime industry for quite a while. What has been the attraction?

    I have tasted the judiciary and the banking industry. The truth is that I have found the maritime industry the most interesting of all the sectors I have worked. That is because the maritime industry has exposed me locally and internationally. Like the saying goes, ‘join the navy and know the world.’ That is exactly how the maritime industry is.

    So, it is now my ambition to transform the waterways so that Nigerians can start seeing the world through the waterways, just as I have fine-tuned myself to the level of international best practices.

    Tell us a little about yourself.

    I was born in Kebbi State in 1963, though my parents are from Borno State. I found it a good thing to go to school then and attended Government Secondary School in Katangora (Niger State). Afterwards, I went to the University of Sokoto in 1982 and graduated in 1988. I studied Common Law and Sharia.

    It seems you have lived all your life in the northern part of Nigeria…

    Not really. Rather, I have lived around Nigeria. After University of Sokoto, I went to the Law School in Lagos, when it was the only one in the whole country. I graduated in 1989 and served with the Police CID in Yola. In 1990, I was employed in the Sokoto State Ministry of Justice as a state counsel.

    When Kebbi state was created, I moved to Kebbi State as a state counsel and eventually became a Chief Magistrate in 1992. In 1994, I gained employment in NDIC.

    What memories do you recall of your years in the banking industry?

    I was part of the team that drafted the Failed Banks Decree during the General Abacha regime. I was also in the prosecution team that tried several bank officials for failed banks. In 1998, I left NDIC to join the National Inland Waterways Authority as a Principal Manager. From there, I rose to the post of General Manager, Legal services and Company Secretary before my appointment as the Acting Managing Director two months ago.

    Your friends complain that you are all work and no play.

    (Laughs) That is not true. I play badminton at my spare time, sometimes very regular. I love to play badminton. I have been a sportsman from childhood. I also do work-outs to remain fit.

    How about your family life?

    I am happily married. I have grown up children who are presently in the university.

    You run a federal government agency that has to do with water. Can you tell us about it?

    The National Inland Waterways Authority is an offshore of Inland Waterways Department of the Federal Ministry of Transportation. In 1978, the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, promulgated a decree which transformed and metamorphosed the department into a full-fledged Federal Government parastatal. That was when NIWA, as it is now called, was born.

    Would you say it has been relevant?

    Yes, it has. Inland waterways transportation has been a significant sector of the Nigerian economy since 1957 when the then colonial masters had a ‘white’ paper which made the inland waterway sub-sector an important aspect of the Nigerian economy. After independence, it became a department of the Federal Ministry of Transport and has now transformed into a parastatal. So, it has been a significant part of the Nigerian economy.

    It was what the colonial masters used to flourish the economy. We all know about Mungo Park ventures, UAC, Royal Niger Trading Company and others. This was the means of transportation that was used to transport raw materials from the hinterland to the southern part of the country and then on to overseas. That was vibrant until the 1980s when the sector started having challenges, which gave rise to the promulgation of the decree that gave birth to NIWA.

    The inland waterways sub-sector is the only means of transport through which bulky goods can be moved more easily, even than the roads, the railway and air transport. For instance, an 800-ton capacity barge is equivalent to about 45 trailer loads, which means that if you are transporting an 800-ton load on the waterways, you have already taken 45 trailers off the road. This will of course reduce the cost of maintaining our roads, save lives and make the food that we have on our tables cheaper because the cost of transportation is cheaper. Therefore it becomes a direct reflection of what comes to our table as food and how it could spur and influence the economy for growth.

    If our waterways are that important, why are we not having them transformed by your organisation?

    The sub-sector has suffered a lot of neglect from the past administrations. It was only when the President Muhammadu Buhari was the Chairman of PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund) that the reactivation of the sector started. He awarded the contract for the dredging of the Niger River. But during the government of Obasanjo, not much was done. As a matter of fact, the contract which Buhari awarded was terminated and the fund meant for that particular contract was recovered.

    However, when the Late President Yar’adua came into government, the real re-engineering came up, and that gave an opportunity for the dredging of the River Niger from Baro to Warri in Delta State. That has been concluded and we are now maintening that aspect. Last year, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan awarded the contract for the dredging of River Benue to the tune of about N26 million. That has not commenced because there is no cash backing.

    How are the waterways going to work for Nigerians and what is the way forward?

    The biggest challenge is funding. Inland Waterways across the world, especially in most countries, are financed through what is called a trust fund. That happens in America too. It is usually called Inland Waterways Trust Fund. It is a fund contributed by stakeholders through 2% of the fuel consumed in the course of activities on the waterways. That can easily be replicated in Nigeria. Though it may not be to the exact immediately, but it can be achieved. That is because in Nigeria, we have a big pool of stakeholders. An example of this is the fact that 70 to 80 per cent of oil exploration activities in this country are done on the waterways. Yet these oil companies pay us peanuts.

    We were in court with Shell in 2004 and we had a judgment against them at the Federal High Court for a sum that was just a couple of millions of naira but has now risen into several millions of naira. These are some of the challenges we have with the oil companies. All the dams that generate electricity in this country are all on our waterways, yet NEPA, before privatization, never paid us any money to correct the negation which their activities have cost to navigation in our inland waterways. Not to forget all the dredging companies that operate in Lagos, Niger Delta and other places around the country.

    So you can see that we have a very large pool. The only way we can correct this is by amending our enabling act. That is because the financial provision in our enabling act is very weak and inadequate. But by the time we amend our enabling act and enhance the financial provision to create a trust fund which will be contributed by the stakeholders I have mentioned, the issue of funding will be solved.

    Do you see that happening?

    Yes, I see that happening because we already have a bill before the National Assembly and the president is someone who has the Inland Waterways at the back of his heart, because he was the first person that started the transformation process in this particular sector. Therefore, we believe that this government will give us the much support we need to change the fortunes and activities and results of the sector.

    Supposing the government gives you the needed fund for the waterways to provide alternative support for mass transportation of people and goods, do you have the manpower and other modalities in place?

    By the time one has the financial ability in place, all other issues will meet up with a valid solution. We will be able to train and re-train locally and internationally and also be able to bring in investors to drive it. It is a massive project and one that is long due. It will enhance the much needed development support for our economy.

    You just mentioned the issue of training your staff locally. Are the facilities there?

    What we do in terms of training is that, when we buy a craft, the manufacturer comes down here to train our staff. Then from time to time, we visit the manufacturers at their factory for on-the-site training.

    What time frame are you looking at for this transformation?

    It is really much about the National Assembly. If for instance the National Assembly passes into effect our pending bill within this year, then in the next two years, we would have transformed our waterways to international standard. Even as I speak to you, we have few companies that are utilising the waterways from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Onitsha, and from there to Warri. We have several companies already utilising our waterways.

    There is a company in Kogi State at present that manufactures tiles. They have three barges of 800, 500 and 300 tons capacity. They use these each month to transport their tiles from Ajaokuta to Onitsha on a regular basis. We are also presently in touch with a company that is interested in starting to use hovercraft to transport passengers from Lagos to Abuja. We have met with them, we commenced talks and we are at the concluding stage of the talks for this laudable project now. It is what we call hover barge.

    These are goods and highly recommended as they do not really need high water level. If the water level is not very high, they can hover. It is about air; it moves on the surface of the water and does not require much depth.

    How safe are our waterways?

    They are very safe. They are safer than the roads and are also cheaper. It is even more environmentally friendly. During the last administration of ex President Jonathan, we had discussions with the Chief of Defence Staff then and the other service chiefs, and they agreed to give physical security. Right now, we have a police command attached to us and we have security patrol boats at our disposal. So, these are the kind of security apparatus that we have in place.

    Still on an alternative mass transit system in the nation and your plans for passenger travel on the waterways, when the hovercrafts arrive and commence operations, will they operate day and night or during the day alone?

    Travelling by night is not safe. It is against the international maritime rules to travel by night, particularly passenger wise. But it will take these hovercrafts that I am talking about 3 to 6 hours to travel between Lagos and Lokoja. You can imagine how fast that is. So, if it is this fast, there is therefore no need for using it for night travel. It is not necessary at all. Most of the accidents and road disasters that we have been having take place at night.

    Do you see the stakeholders supporting the re-engineering of the sector?

    For instance, we want to start speaking with Aliko Dangote. Those are the kind of stakeholders we are referring to. This re-engineering will save him and his likes a lot in terms of safety and cost. A single barge saves them 45 trailers on the road. Those are the kind of stakeholders we are working towards, to cooperate and partner with us.

    Do the other government agencies related to your organisation share your vision for the sub sector? For instance, not too long ago, there was a court case bordering on who has the superior authority over some parts of our waterways between the federal government and the state government. How do you intend to manage such issues?

    Yes, some time ago in Lagos, I did make it clear that whatever conflict that the federal and state government agencies may have on issues relating to the waterways, there is the need for cooperation between all, because the ultimate aim of establishing all these agencies and organisations is to ensure a better economy for the nation and to make life easy generally for the citizens. So why can’t state governments and the federal government collaborate to achieve the ultimate goal?

    How will Kogi State benefit from this planned wholesome change in the sub-sector?

    We have been encouraging the government in the state to key into the expected success in this sub-sector. You can see that Kogi State is surrounded by water. Therefore, the success of the reforms will favour the state. And for the reform to succeed, we require a government policy that will restrict the movement of certain tonnage of goods on our roads. Such a policy will also boost transportation on the waterways, preserve our roads, end majority of the accidents caused by heavy duty trucks and long vehicles on our roads. By the time we have such a policy, it will enable certain tons of goods to be transported by water, and you can imagine the benefit from such convenience.

    The good news here for National Inland Waterways Authority is also that, out of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 28 of these states are easily accessible by water.

    What are the problems you foresee, apart from funding?

    It still boils down to funding again, because infrastructure is a major challenge which funding will definitely overcome. We need facilities. The river ports and the jetties for instance. But I have good news: the National Inland Waterways Authority has not been folding its arms and waiting for a messiah as such. As I am speaking to you, we are constructing about four river ports at a go; one in Oguta in Imo State, which is almost 65 per cent complete; Baro in Niger State, we have completed that one and just waiting to award the contract for the cargo handling equipment; the one in Lokoja is almost 50 per cent complete. We have completed that of Onitsha and last year, we awarded the construction of the one in Makurdi, although it is yet to commence. We have construction of jetties all over.

    We intend to bring mega structural development in all our strategic locations nationwide. For instance, in Warri, we have one of the biggest dock yards which we intend to turn around into a modern dockyard and then within the same environment, have a meaningful edifice that would be office complex and shopping mall; the same thing that we will do at the Lagos marina. We have a property on Queens’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, which we will also give a befitting look.

    Another problem some stakeholders really complain about is security. But as I said much earlier, we have set in place a mechanism to tackle such challenge and overcome such obstacle. We are already working at collaborating with the armed forces.

    On the possibility of accidents on the waterways, how prepared are you?

    We intend to have a programme of safety, which is a key aspect of our operations. That is why before a craft can ply our waterways, we must assess it and be sure that it is river-worthy.

    On a lighter note, tell us about your fashion sense and style

    I wear what I feel comfortable in. I do not really love bogus dressing. I hardly wear a cap, except I am going for an occasion. I love my body to be free. I also prefer simple dressing. Officially though, I’m usually in a suit.

    If you were not a lawyer turned banker and one who works on water, what else would you be?

    (Laughs) I would have been playing football, hockey or badminton. I have always been a sportsman. I still recall my participation in the university games then. It was called NUGA games. At the games in 1984 in Ife, I played hockey. I was the university captain. We qualified from our zone.

    Can you recall any name you used to know in sports?

    Yes, during a Nigerian All Secondary School games, I recall names like Paul Okoku, Tarila Okorowanta, Ali Jeje and some others who later formed the core of the 1983 Flying Eagles team.