World Rivers Day: Ahmed says rivers must be protected from pollution

The Director General of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Engineer Saliu Ahmed, has stressed the importance of rivers as a vital source of life, while stating the urgent need to protect them from environmental pollution.

In a press release commemorating World Rivers Day, celebrated worldwide on the fourth Sunday of September every year, Eng. Ahmed stressed the importance of rivers and their protection.

World Rivers Day was celebrated around the world on Sunday, September 22 with the theme “The incredible natural, cultural and recreational values ​​of our rivers and waterways in our communities.”

Eng. Ahmed acknowledged the sub-theme of this year’s World Rivers Day, which focuses on “Protecting our Rivers from Pollution,” and commended the BORBDA team for their outstanding achievements in harnessing the potential of the nation’s rivers.

He stressed the need for collective efforts in the sector, insisting that the BORBDA team was willing to lead the charge to redefine how the nation’s water potential was harnessed and utilized for greater efficiency.

Eng. Ahmed also listed some of the achievements of BORBDA, including strengthening the nation’s water infrastructure, modernizing wastewater treatment plants, promoting eco-friendly practices, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, minimizing soil erosion, reducing the use of harmful chemicals, and educating local communities on river conservation efforts.

He deplored the harmful effects of pollution on the health of rivers and called on stakeholders in the sector to unite to safeguard rivers and waterways from damage caused by humans and nature.

World Rivers Day was adopted by the United Nations as part of the Decade of Water for Life in 2005, in recognition of the pioneering work of Mark Angelo, a Canadian who started the movement.

He said: “On this year’s World Rivers Day, we reflect on the vital role rivers play in sustaining human life. They provide a supply of fresh water, support agriculture, facilitate transportation and offer recreational activities and opportunities.

“We have been very careless and wasteful in how we use this God-given resource. The celebration may be symbolic, but it serves as a touching reminder of the importance of protecting our precious waterways.”

Eng. Ahmed, a hydraulic engineer, highlighted some of the far-reaching consequences of pollution and mismanagement of our river potential and advocated for a more robust and safe way “in using our rivers, streams and other water sources”.

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