As the World commemorate the 2019th edition of the World Water Day, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) has lamented non availability of safe water to billions of people across the globe.
The monarch in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare described water as an indispensable companion to all living things, adding that it is the sole means of human survival.
While acknowledging the irreplaceable nature of water, the Ooni urged government at all levels across Africa to live up to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Water for All by 2030.
“I urge government at all levels across Africa to live up to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Water for All by 2030. Currently, billions of people across the world, including Nigerians have no access to clean water, through which they have become victims of waterborne diseases.
“In itself, water is a strong economic resource that is capable of increasing a country’s financial status if invested into and well managed. Our government has tried in the past years on making portable water accessible to all, but there is still more to do in this sector.
“On the part of the citizens, we must cultivate good water hygiene devoid of water pollution. Let us imbibe a proper sewage treatment and management, shun habits like flushing of contaminated liquids, pills, drugs or medications down the drain among others.”
The statement noted that Ooni Ogunwusi has business focus in the water sector through his partnership with Adekha Ltd, authorized distributor & strategic partner in Nigeria for AXEON Water Technologies a USA based water technology company that designs and manufactures a variety of containerized water treatment systems customized to fit any application.
World Water Day is an annual UN recognized day celebrated internationally. It is usually held on 22 March of every year to highlight the importance of clean water and tackling the water crisis globally.