WWD: CSO Demands Tougher Laws to Tackle Nigeria’s Water Pollution Crisis.
Uko Okon, Uyo
A Civil Society Organization (CSO), Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), has urged the government to implement stricter laws to combat Nigeria’s worsening water pollution crisis.
PPDF noted that the government’s current measures are inadequate, allowing industries and individuals to continue polluting the nation’s waterways with impunity.
The Coordinator of PPDF, Mr Umo Isua-Iko, disclosed this while commemorating World Water Day in Ibeno Local Government Area on Saturday.
World Water Day is a global observance that highlights the importance of protecting the world’s water resources
According to him, multinationals have been at the forefront of destroying the country’s water bodies through their extractive activities despite efforts to restrain their actions.
“Sadly, multinationals are doing their worst to ensure that water and its resources are not preserved as God created them.
“Many fish species are now extinct due to oil spills and other multinational activities within Nigeria’s coastal regions.
“Government should establish strict water laws and enforce them, ensuring greater accountability for polluters, particularly multinationals.
“It’s imperative that the government takes bold action to address this issue and I urge the government to work with stakeholders to tackle water pollution, as the health and well-being of Nigerians depend on it,” Isua-Iko said
Mrs. Mercy Edet, an indigene of Ibeno, commended the United Nations for designating March 22nd as World Water Day.
She noted that water remains essential for human existence but lamented that some individuals abuse it through pollution.
Pastor Emem John, Speaker of the Environmental Club in Ibeno, called for more awareness campaigns to educate people on the need to preserve water bodies, stressing that harmful practices in water equally affect humans.
Elizabeth Bassey, a trader in Ibeno, emphasised that water bodies must be preserved and protected from pollution, as they remain a source of livelihood for many Nigerians.
She further noted that polluted water poses significant health threats, including cholera, dysentery, and cancer.
Our correspondent reports that PPDF took a match across Ibeno Beach to sensitise the public on the need to preserve water resources and the implications of polluting water resources.
