The Federal Government has raised the alarm over growing threats to Nigeria’s rivers, warning that their destruction could endanger water security, food production and livelihoods.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, gave the warning yesterday while marking World Rivers Day with the theme, “No Forests, No Rivers; No Water, No Life.”

The event featured a media briefing, symbolic river-cleaning and riverside tree-planting exercise at Wupa River, Gbesa Community, Abuja.

Utsev said rivers remained critical to agriculture, food security, domestic and industrial activities, livelihoods and biodiversity, but were increasingly threatened by pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal, urbanisation, erosion, sand mining and climate change.

He said the ministry remained committed to Integrated Water Resources Management, watershed protection and improved water-quality monitoring.

The minister called for stronger collaboration among governments, communities, development partners, the private sector and civil society to protect the nation’s rivers and waterways.

Utsev also linked sanitation to the health of Nigeria’s rivers, disclosing that 179 Local Government Areas had been validated as Open Defecation Free, while more than 5,238 public sanitation facilities had been constructed nationwide under the Clean Nigeria Campaign: Use the Toilet programme.

He urged Nigerians, particularly youths and the media, to support the campaign against open defecation, pollution of waterways and destruction of forests and wetlands.

In his welcome address, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, said the theme underscored the link between healthy forests, rivers and sustainable water resources.

Dallah said Nigeria’s rivers faced growing threats from pollution, deforestation, environmental degradation and climate change, stressing that protecting them was essential to water security, food production and national development.

He said the choice of Wupa River for the celebration was a practical reminder of the need to protect and restore the nation’s water bodies.

Director of River Basin Operations and Inspectorate, Engr. Christy Oduh, in her vote of thanks, appreciated the minister, Dallah, directors, chief executives of River Basin Development Authorities and other stakeholders for their participation. (The Sun)