Folalumi Alaran in FG, UNIDO Pledges to upgrade standards of discharge wastewater

The federal government in collaboration with the United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under the Niger Basin-Iullemeden Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (NB-ITTAS) Project, has pledged the refining and improvements of the standard of discharge wastewater in the Niger Basin region.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of water resources, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who stood in for the Minister, made the pledge at the opening declaring of a five days Regional workshop NB-ITTAS/TEST, which was spearheaded by ministry, and Niger Basin Authority (NBA).

The workshop she explained was organized basically to bring together the nine member countries of the Niger Basin Authority to come together to share experience on the issue of waste management.

She said: ” Nigeria as a Country attaches paramount importance to Integrated Water Resources Management of shared water. Hence, our strong commitments to Transboundary Water Organizations like the Niger Basin Authority. Indeed, the efficient and integrated management of the water resources available to meet the requirements of the various users in the basin requires our Countries and our Joint Institution, the NBA, to have a better knowledge of this resource”

” It is important to state that the evolution of water resources quality in the basin and the discharge of wastewater have to be monitored, given the continuous increase in industrial, mining, and agricultural activities. Indeed, wastewater management poses many legal, institutional, financial, economic, and cultural challenges. It follows therefore, that individuals and organizations must comply and act in the collective interest to improve water quality and protect water resources. To this end, it is crucial during this Workshop to propose concrete and standard measures to mitigate the release of pollutants, particularly those of anthropogenic origin.” She said.

Regional director of UNIDO, and also the representative of UNIDO to ECOWAS, John Bankole on his part said Nigeria plays a key role in leading the integration of all region within the ECOWAS.

He said: ” Nigeria have a crucial role to play in the region, we can try to address the climate change challenges and address the issue of water pollution, because