World Rivers Day: Ahmed says Rivers must be protected from pollution

Managing Director of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Engr. Saliu Ahmed, has underscored the importance of rivers as a vital source of life even as he stated the urgent need to protect them from environmental pollution.

In a press statement commemorating World Rivers Day, celebrated globally on the fourth Sunday of September every year, Engr. Ahmed highlighted the importance of rivers and their preservation.

World Rivers Day was observed globally on Sunday, September 22, with the theme “The Incredible Natural, Cultural and Recreational Values of our Rivers and Streams in our Communities.”

Engr. Ahmed acknowledged the sub-theme of this year’s World Rivers Day, which focused on “Protecting Our Rivers From Pollution,” and praised the BORBDA team for its impressive accomplishments in harnessing the potential of the nation’s rivers.

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He stressed the need for collective efforts in the sector, insisting that the BORBDA team was willing to lead the charge to redefine how the nation’s water potential was harnessed and utilized for greater efficiency.

Engr. Ahmed also listed some of the BORBDA achievements, including boosting the nation’s water infrastructure, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, promoting eco-friendly practices, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, minimizing soil erosion, reducing the use of harmful chemicals, and educating local communities about river conservation efforts.

He lamented the detrimental effects of pollution on rivers health and called for stakeholders in the sector to unite to safeguard the rivers and streams from both human and natural harm.

World Rivers Day was adopted by the UN as part of the Water for Life Decade in 2005 in recognition of the pioneering works of Mark Angelo, a Canadian who initiated the movement.

He said, “In celebration of this year’s World Rivers Day, let us reflect on the vital role rivers play in sustaining human life. They provide a freshwater supply, support agriculture, facilitate transportation, as well as offer recreational activities and opportunities.

“We have been very careless and wasteful in the way we use this God-given resource. The celebration may be symbolic, but it serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of protecting our precious waterways.”

Engr. Ahmed, a water engineer, highlighted some of the far-reaching consequences of pollution and the mismanagement of our river potential and advocated a more robust and secure way “in the utilization of our rivers, streams and other water sources.”