By Muhammad Amaan
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised an alarm that water could soon become a highly precious commodity in Nigeria.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Christiane Munduate, issued the warning during an interview with journalists in Sokoto on Thursday.
Ms. Munduate warned that, if authorities in Nigeria failed to address environmental challenges and combat the effects of climate change, there would be water scarcity across several communities.
She said that environmental degradation and improper waste management practices were aggravating water scarcity in the country.
The UNICEF official urged the authorities to enforce existing laws to curb the indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic and polythene materials, which were harming the environment.
“In Nigeria, water will become the most precious commodity or product in the future.
“This will surpass the current value of solid minerals, oil and gas resources,” she warned.
Ms. Munduate, who was on a working visit to the North West, also expressed concerns about the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes.
She stated that the practice was worsening the effects of climate change.
She called on governments at all levels to prioritise the provision of clean water, emphasising its role in preventing diseases and improving public health.
