By Anthony Ochela
Federal government joined the global community to mark World Rivers Day 2025 with a renewed call for collective action to protect and restore the nation’s rivers and waterways.
The celebration, with the theme: ‘Clean Rivers, Healthy Communities,’ was spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
This was done through a high-level press conference in Abuja and symbolic activities.
The activities also include tree planting and river clean-up exercises at Wupa River in Gbesa Community, off Airport Road, Abuja.
Similar events were simultaneously held across the country’s River Basin Development Authorities, RBDAs.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, stressed that healthy rivers are vital for public health, food security, environmental sustainability and economic growth.
“Rivers are not refuse dumps. Our rivers must not be polluted with sewage, effluents or open defecation. Protecting our rivers is safeguarding our health, livelihoods, and economy,” Professor Utsev declared.
He emphasised that protecting rivers is synonymous with protecting public health, economy and the environment, urging collective action to ensure that every river in Nigeria flows clean and supports healthy communities, safe food production, vibrant ecosystems and a resilient economy.
The minister highlighted key government interventions aimed at improving water and sanitation nationwide, including the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene, PEWASH, Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH, programme.
It also includes Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, which has so far enabled 21 states and 151 local government areas to attain Open Defecation Free, ODF, status.
As part of the commemoration, the ministry organised a symbolic river cleaning and tree planting exercise at Wupa River, where Utsev underscored the importance of community participation in combating pollution, erosion and the impact of climate change.
“The simple yet powerful act of planting trees today is an investment in the health of our rivers and the well-being of our communities,” he said, calling on civil society, private sector and young people to become river guardians.
The minister explained that this year’s observance aligns with the global World Rivers Day, held annually on the fourth Sunday of September.
However, in Nigeria, the National Council on Water Resources approved a Monday celebration to ensure broader stakeholder participation.
Utsev noted that the event reinforces the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which links river conservation to food security, job creation and improved socio-economic well-being.
Delivering the welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Pheelangwah, represented by the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Mr Moses Jo-Madugu, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to integrated river basin management, climate-smart sanitation systems and nationwide advocacy to mobilise citizens and institutions in safeguarding water resources.
A statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan, said the event was attended by directors in the ministry, managing directors and directors-general of water and sanitation agencies, government officials, development partners and traditional leaders, underscoring a broad national commitment to river conservation and sustainable water resources management
