By Israel Mbam
As the world marked the 2022 Water day on Tuesday 22nd March 2022, a civil society organization; Widows and Orphans Empowerment organization in partnership with USAID State2State and other CSOs have called on Ebonyi State government and other stakeholders in water management to as a matter of priority, intensify efforts in making ground water visible and accessible to residents of the State. They made the call at an event organized by WEWE to mark the year's world water day on Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at Anson Suit Limited, Mile 50 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
In his presentation, one of the resource persons and HoD Pollution Control and Waste Management in the State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Friday Aja, noted that ground water which is mostly invisible to many are usually conterminated by waste pollution making it unsafe for human usage. He emphasized the need for collective efforts towards making ground water visible, accessible and usable through proper waste disposal, ending open deification and proper sewage disposal to safe ground water from further contermination .
Mr. Friday Aja also observed that excessive application of chemical fertilizer and non recycling of waste products are other factors that affects ground water negatively and makes it invisible and unavailable for use.
Giving insight on the history and significance of world water day, the acting General Manager of Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EB-RUWASSA), Engr. Andrew Sunday Opoke said the celebration started in 1992 by United Nation General Assembly to create awareness on availability, utility, preservation, accessibility and protection of water to achieve accessible portable water by 2030.
He explained that the significance of water cannot be overemphasized as it is used for domestic, agriculture, industrial, drinking and other uses.
Dr. Opoke stressed the need availability of safe and portable water in Ebonyi State and beyond to achieve the year's theme which is Ground water: making the invisible visible. He further revealed that government at all levels has failed in provision of safe visible and accessible water, hence the need to give it priority attention by engaging expert in reviving the State water sector.
Earlier in their opening remarks, the program officer of Widows and Orphans Empowerment organization, Mr. Emmanuel Adiele and the Monitoring and Evaluation officer Mr. Frank Nebo welcomed participants who were drawn from CSOs, WASH officers of Abakaliki, Afikpo South, Ikwo, Ohaukwu, Ivo and Ohaozara LGA as well as youths and women representatives of the above LGAs.
They explained that the event was to celebrate and create awareness about water and its importance, adding that it was part of their advocacy inline with their USAID assisted project aimed at achieving WASH policy, Accountability, transparency and Effectiveness in governance at all levels.
Participants who did a group work and developed action plan at the event, promised to put to use all they learnt from the program.
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