Date: 2017-11-15

The Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH) has called on the Federal Government to save the country from the calamity that may emerge from pollution of water by urgently taking necessary actions that discourage such act.

The association also tasked the government to create public awareness to make people appreciate issues of climate change, environmental and socio-economic impacts on the management of water resources.

The NAH in a communique issued at the end of its 29th conference in Ilorin with the theme: "Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in water" signed by its national president, Ehidiamhen Olumese also enjoined the National Assembly to act fast on passage of the water bill before it into Act saying it is urgently needed to strengthen the governance structure in the water sector.

The hydrogeologists observed with concern, the effects of environmental contamination and pollution of surface and underground water resources. They were of the view that there is the need for the government to recognise the effects of climate change on water resources, and the incorporation of such knowledge into various developmental efforts aimed at achieving the SDGs in the water sector.

The association advised the government to institutionalise good governance and best practices in the administration of the several projects in the sector.

The NAH called for training and retraining of hydogeologists and other relevant professionals to acquire appropriate skills in groundwater modelling saying this had become the current trend in sustainable water resource management globally.