Infrastructure

Ogun Introduces Measures for Proper Water Management

By Web News 636

By Olusegun Folarin 

Ogun State government says it has introduced measures to regulate the process of taking water from natural sources for use in other areas to ensure proper management of water by all stakeholders. 

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya made this known to commemorate the 2024 World Water Day in Abeokuta, organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA.

Mr Oresanya explained that the Water Abstraction Regulatory Scheme was initiated to ensure equity and sustainable access to water while preventing water scarcity, land subsidence and water pollution in the State. 

Mr Oresanya who noted that the lack of access to safe water could trigger conflicts emphasized the urgent need for nations to unite around protecting and conserving the most precious resource.

Also, the Managing Director, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA, Otunba Olufemi Odumosu who noted that the population growth had increased pressure on water resources systems said efforts must be intensified to make water available for the people. 

Otunba Odumosu restated the commitment of the agency to continue to boost the water supply and prevent conflicts among the various communities.

Speaking on the theme ” leveraging on water for peace” the guest lecturer, from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Dr Adeyinka Sobowale said there was an increasing need to balance all of the competing commercial demands for water resources to enable the communities to have enough for their needs.

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Environment

Oyo Govt. Begins Rehabilitation of Water Pipelines

By Web News 520

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Oyo State Government has embarked on the rehabilitation of water pipelines at Eleyele and Sango axis of Ibadan.

The Chairman, Water Corporation of Oyo State, Mr Elias Adeojo stated this in his office after a meeting with the Engineers of the Corporation saddled with the responsibility.

Mr Adeojo reiterated that the government has devised means of segmenting the rehabilitation of the moribund pipelines in phases across the State, due to paucity of funds.

He added that supply of water has met a brick wall before the advent of the current administration.

He equally said that Eleyele drawing point has been facelifted by adding more treated water drawing points to cater for the yearnings of the Corporation’s customers and boost its revenue drive.

The Chairman thereafter expressed his appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for giving the Corporation the necessary support in carrying out the rehabilitation across the State.

Foreign

Just Two-Minute Shower, SA Advises Johannesburg Residents

By Web News 381

Water suppliers in Johannesburg, South Africa, have asked residents of the city and its suburbs to use less water amid an intensifying water shortage that they warn could “result in the collapse of the system”.

Rand Water and Johannesburg Water on Sunday said that high water consumption by residents “is putting a strain on the system” and has resulted in significantly low water reservoir levels.

The companies have asked residents to save water by limiting their showers to two minutes, only flushing toilets after long calls and only washing cars on weekends using buckets.

The companies have also asked residents to stop filling swimming pools until water scarcity ends, avoid watering gardens and lawns with clean water and fix or report water leakages.

Johannesburg is currently under the yearly water restrictions, which often last during South Africa’s dry season between September and March.

In recent weeks, some of the city’s residents and institutions such as hospitals have gone without water, causing public discontent.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Foreign

Japan to Release Treated Water in 48 Hours

By Web News 352

Japan will start releasing treated radioactive water from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, despite opposition from its neighbors.

The decision comes weeks after the UN’s nuclear watchdog approved the plan.

Some 1.34 million tonnes of water – enough to fill 500 Olympic-size pools – have accumulated since the 2011 tsunami destroyed the plant.

The water will be released over 30 years after being filtered and diluted.

Authorities will request for the plant’s operator to “promptly prepare” for the disposal to start on 24 August if weather and sea conditions are appropriate, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday after a Cabinet meeting.

Mr. Kishida had visited the plant on Sunday, prompting speculation the release was imminent.

The government has said that releasing the water is a necessary step in the lengthy and costly process of decommissioning the plant, which sits on the country’s east coast, about 220km (137 miles) northeast of the capital Tokyo.

Japan has been collecting and storing the contaminated water in tanks for more than a decade, but space is running out.

In 2011, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake flooded three reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The event is regarded as the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chornobyl.

Shortly after, authorities set up an exclusion zone which continued to be expanded as radiation leaked from the plant, forcing more than 150,000 people to evacuate from the area.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

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Agriculture

Rehabilitation of Water Pipeline Network to Begin in Osun

By Web News 464

By Funmi Adekoya 

In a bid for sustainable water supply to the people of Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed a phased rehabilitation of selected water works and water pipeline networks across the state.

The directive is coming as the sinking of 332 boreholes under direct labour and shoestring budget reaches 85 percent, with only about four local governments rounding up with their implementation. 

A statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed indicates that Governor Adeleke, acting on a committee report relating to the worsening state of infrastructure within the water sector, approved the immediate upgrade of pipeline networks of both Ede and Osogbo water works alongside the repairs and recharging of water filter media at Iwo and Eko-ende water works.

The water scheme at Esaoke is also under rehabilitation for the supply of potable water while the Governor is following up with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the completion of the Ile-Ife water project.

The State Government, according to the statement is also interfacing with the Federal Ministry to resolve the delay created by the mismanagement of the Ilesa Water project with particular reference to the contractor and the project managers.

A top adviser to Governor Adeleke, Dr Bashiru Salami, who confirmed the rehabilitation in the water sector, affirmed that the administration had a holistic programme to address the challenges facing the water sector in the state. 

According to him, the administration adopted a mix of solutions which includes sinking boreholes in wards across the state even though he acknowledged that the 332 boreholes were not sufficient to cater for the citizen’s water needs.

Meanwhile, the administration has denied reports from some quarters that 14 million naira was the cost of each of the 332 boreholes, describing the report as false as each borehole cost far less than insinuated, the full details to be made available during ‘Ipade Imole’ event. 

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Environment

EU Partners Ekiti on Access to Potable Water

By Web News 792

The European Union has concluded arrangement to partner Ekiti State government to improve citizens’ access to potable water with affordable and sustainable commercialisation policy in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Sector.

Policy Expert of European Union in Ekiti State, Mr. Alaba Ogunsajo, stated this at a forum for stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector on commercialization and regularization of water services in the state.

Radio Nigeria’s Tope Bamidele has the rest of the story.

Tope Bamidele