Editor
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is collaborating with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to improve the quality of irrigation water in the country.
This development was revealed at a meeting of the Technical Committee on Water Quality, held in Abuja Wednesday. The meeting focused on drafting the Nigerian Standard for Irrigation Water Quality, a joint effort between the Ministry and SON.
In her remarks, Mrs. Oyeronke Oluniyi, Director of Irrigation and Drainage at the Ministry, emphasized the significance of establishing a national standard for irrigation water quality. She highlighted its potential to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and drive socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
Mrs. Oluniyi underscored the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about water quality issues. She called for the elimination of harmful practices, such as washing clothes in irrigation systems and open defecation, particularly because many agricultural products are consumed raw. She further stated that the project would be handed over to SON for implementation, with the Ministry maintaining a supervisory role to ensure its success.
Speaking on behalf of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director General, represented by the Deputy Director of the Food and Agriculture Group, Mrs. Nene Obianwu, stressed the importance of maintaining water quality standards. He noted that this is essential for protecting crops from harmful contaminants that pose risks to public health.
Dr. Okeke highlighted the release of two key documents to advance national standardization efforts: “Principles and Procedures for the Development of the Nigerian National Standards (PPDNNS) and Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS)”
“The NNSS provides a four-year roadmap for addressing Nigeria’s environmental and socio-economic challenges in alignment with international best practices.”
He also called for the establishment of a National Technical Committee to finalize the National Standard for Irrigation Water Quality.
According to him, improving water management and irrigation standards will help mitigate the effects of climate change, address population growth challenges, safeguard public health, and boost economic development.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry, also spoke at the meeting. She emphasized the importance of validating irrigation standards to tackle key developmental issues in Nigeria. According to her, the Ministry is committed to enhancing food security, nutrition, productivity, and socio-economic development through improved water quality standards.
Mrs. Ugoh further revealed that the committee has been meticulously reviewing relevant documents since 2022 to develop irrigation water quality standards tailored to Nigeria’s specific agricultural needs. She stressed the need for robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, as well as regular reviews, to ensure sustainable progress.
