Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Minister of State for Water, Resources, and Sanitation Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has pledged the commitment of the Ministry of Water Resource and Sanitation to collaborate with relevant stakeholders for the cleanup of Jabi Lake.
This announcement was made during a progress report presentation at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja on Thursday.
Goronyo expressed concern over the diminishing Eco-hydrological value of the lake, attributing it to encroachment by miscreants and vandals. He emphasized the urgency of halting unauthorized activities threatening the water body and its ecosystem to preserve it for future water supply and demand.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the Eco-hydrology research team, Goronyo stated that increased building structures around the lake hinder access to its shorelines. He assured stakeholders of his commitment to reaching out and collaborating to address these threats and protect Jabi Lake.
Professor E.A. Adanu, Chairman of the Regional Center for Integrated River Basin Management, emphasized the importance of addressing identified threats and security challenges in the Jabi area during the presentation.
Dr. Sani Dauda Ahmed, Coordinator of Training and Education at RC-IRBM Project Desk Office, provided updates on research and capacity building in Eco-hydrology and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on Jabi Lake during his presentation.
He revealed that Jabi Lake, faces escalating threats due to the rapid increase in urbanization and socio-economic activities in its vicinity, he added that this poses a significant risk to the lake and its delicate ecosystem.
He noted that recognizing the urgency of addressing these challenges has led to the adoption of Eco-hydrology (EH) as a crucial strategy for Jabi Lake, through integrating EH principles. He stressed that there is a potential to gain valuable insights into the threats confronting the water body and devise effective approaches to mitigate or minimize them.
He revealed that the rationale for embracing Eco-hydrology for Jabi Lake is multifaceted. Firstly, it serves as a means to tackle the Water Resources Management challenges that are impacting the lake and its surrounding ecosystems. Furthermore, EH becomes instrumental in safeguarding and preserving the vital water resources of the lake to meet future demands.
Additionally, he revealed that considering the lake’s role as a habitat for migratory birds, EH practices aim to preserve the lake’s ecosystem. He added that establishing Jabi Lake as a model for Eco-hydrology in Nigeria becomes pivotal for knowledge exchange and briefings among Water Resources stakeholders.
Jabi Lake, chosen as Nigeria’s first Eco-hydrology demonstration site, faces threats that necessitate collaborative efforts for conservation. The Eco-hydrology program, supported by UNESCO, aims to integrate social, ecological, and hydrological research to develop effective policies for water Resources Management.
