Niger State government has raised the alarm over the pollution of water bodies in the state.
It said the development had made it difficult to tap fully the potentials of such water bodies.
Consequently, the commissioner for water resources and dams’ development, Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan Gwagwa, has hinted that the state government would take an audit of all the water bodies in the state for optimum utilisation.
He stated this at the 2023 World Rivers Day organised by the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority held in Minna, the state capital.
He said, “Our state is richly endowed with many rivers. Still, it is our view that the huge water resources potential that is available in the state is not yet well utilised”.
“Due to human activities, many rivers have been endangered and jeopardised. River courses have been significantly disrupted and many rivers are being heavily polluted thereby rendering some unusable or dangerous and expensive to use due to high cost of treatment,” he added.
The commissioner who was represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Akilu Musa Kuta, said the situation has endangered the diverse flora and fauna that live and depend on rivers.
At the event with the theme: “Rights of Rivers”, the commissioner said there was the need to raise awareness among the public on the value of rivers and the need to protect and conserve them and to tap from their full potential.
The managing director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, Prof Mohammed Ali said the event was to create awareness on the dangers of water pollution and economic potentials associated with rivers.