Federal Government: Pollution and sand mining are putting Nigeria’s rivers — and water and food security — at risk

# What the government said Nigeria's rivers face rising threats that could harm water supply, food production and people's livelihoods. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof. Joseph Utsev spoke during World Rivers Day activities at Wupa River in Gbesa Community, Abuja. The event included a media briefing, a symbolic river clean-up and tree planting.

# Why this matters

# Government response and priorities

The minister tied sanitation to river health. As part of the Clean Nigeria Campaign: Use the Toilet, the ministry reported 179 Local Government Areas confirmed as open-defecation-free and more than 5,238 public sanitation facilities built. The ministry urged young people and the media to support efforts against open defecation and pollution of waterways.

# Local example: Wupa River Officials selected Wupa River for the World Rivers Day activities to show a local example of a water body needing protection and restoration. The event was a reminder that actions at community level — cleaning riversides and planting trees — contribute to watershed health.

# What stakeholders were present Speakers included the minister, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, and the Director of River Basin Operations and Inspectorate Engr. Christy Oduh, who gave the vote of thanks. River Basin Development Authority chief executives and other stakeholders attended.

# Practical implications for communities and farmers If rivers degrade, farmers may face reduced irrigation supply and fisheries may decline. Urban communities could see poorer water quality and higher treatment costs. Local flooding risk can increase where deforestation, erosion and unmanaged runoff are present.

# Short list of recommended actions mentioned

• Expand watershed protection and river restoration activities.
• Strengthen water-quality monitoring across basins.
• Coordinate across government levels, communities and the private sector.
• Improve sanitation coverage to limit direct contamination of waterways.

# Bottom line The ministry framed river protection as a cross-cutting concern for water security and food production. The message was that limiting pollution, halting destructive sand mining, managing erosion and increasing sanitation and watershed protection are steps needed now to prevent longer-term harm to water supplies and livelihoods.