By Our Reporter
The Federal Government and the Nigerian Navy have called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, environmental experts and other stakeholders to protect Nigeria’s lakes from pollution, over-exploitation and the growing effects of climate change.
The call came in Abuja on Thursday as Nigeria joined the global community to mark World Lake Day, with stakeholders warning that the degradation and shrinking of lakes could have far-reaching consequences for water security, food production, livelihoods, biodiversity and the country’s emerging blue economy.
The event, organised by Naval Base Abuja, was held under the theme, “Revitalising our Lakes: Advancing Ecosystem Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
Among those in attendance were officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Navy, environmental experts, representatives of government agencies, paramilitary organisations, members of the academic community and the media.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, said the condition of lakes and reservoirs around the world had deteriorated significantly compared with the situation in the 1990s.
Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health in the ministry, Mrs Omotunde Adeola, identified rapid urban expansion, toxic and nutrient pollution, excessive water extraction, invasive species, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable land-use practices as some of the major threats confronting lake ecosystems.
He also expressed concern over the growing practice of dumping solid waste into water bodies, noting that floods increasingly wash refuse and other pollutants into lakes and reservoirs.
According to him, failure to address the problems could affect water volume and quality, undermine the ability of lakes to serve as natural buffers against environmental shocks, destroy biodiversity and threaten the livelihoods and well-being of communities that depend on the water bodies.
The warning has particular significance for Nigeria, where inland water bodies support fishing, agriculture, transportation, electricity generation, tourism and a wide range of economic activities.
The minister said Nigeria had more than 100 small lakes and several major lakes distributed across the country, with 16 officially recognised major lakes classified as natural or man-made. They include Lake Chad, Kainji Lake and Oguta Lake.
Lake Chad, in particular, illustrates the scale of the challenge facing the region. The lake, shared by Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, has experienced dramatic fluctuations and long-term shrinkage. The European Space Agency has reported that its surface area declined by about 90 per cent from its extent in the 1960s, with reduced rainfall, climate change, irrigation and increasing demand for freshwater among the contributing factors. (European Space Agency)
The shrinking of Lake Chad has implications beyond the environment. The lake and its surrounding basin support fishing, farming, livestock production and other economic activities for millions of people across the four countries. Its decline therefore has consequences for food security, employment, migration and regional stability.
Kainji Lake presents a different dimension of the importance of Nigeria’s inland waters. Created by the construction of the Kainji Dam on the River Niger, the reservoir supports hydroelectric power generation, fishing, agriculture and other economic activities. (Wikipedia)
Similarly, Oguta Lake in Imo State is an important natural lake with ecological, economic and tourism value. Its catchment is connected to several rivers and parts of the Niger floodplain, making its environmental condition important to the wider ecosystem of southeastern Nigeria. (Wikipedia)
Lawal said healthy lakes provide water for human consumption, food production, irrigation and health, while also contributing to hydroelectric power generation, drought mitigation, microclimate regulation and biodiversity conservation.
He further linked the protection of lakes to the development of Nigeria’s blue economy, noting that inland waterways provide opportunities for transportation, trade, ecotourism and recreation.
Globally, lakes are estimated to number more than 117 million and cover about five per cent of the Earth’s land surface. Their ecological and economic importance has made their protection an increasingly important component of climate and environmental policy.
Lawal therefore called for an integrated and coordinated approach to the management of Nigeria’s lakes, involving federal and state governments, security agencies, communities, environmental organisations, researchers and other stakeholders.
He commended the Commander of Naval Base Abuja, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, for sustaining the observance of World Lake Day, describing the initiative as an important platform for raising public awareness about the ecological, economic and social value of lakes.
He said the Federal Ministry of Environment would continue to work with the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders to protect and restore the country’s water bodies.
Also speaking, Oladipo said the Navy’s involvement in the initiative went beyond environmental awareness, describing it as part of the service’s effort to strengthen civil-military relations and expand its contribution to national development.
He said the initiative was consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the emphasis on strengthening the civilian assistance and outreach functions of the Armed Forces.
According to him, the Navy also seeks to contribute to efforts aimed at rehabilitating the Lake Chad Basin ecosystem and protecting other critical water bodies across the country.
“We are inspired to use World Lake Day to emphasise the importance of lakes to ecosystems, economies and communities, while fostering greater awareness of environmental issues,” he said.
Oladipo said the Navy hoped the commemoration would stimulate pragmatic policy measures to protect and restore lakes threatened by pollution, overuse and climate change.
He added that the Navy was using the occasion to educate students, young people, policymakers and members of the public on the ecological importance of lakes and the need for responsible use of water resources.
As part of the activities marking the occasion, the Nigerian Navy had also undertaken a one-week clean-up exercise at Lake Chad.
The initiative, according to the Navy, is intended to demonstrate that environmental protection requires more than annual commemorations and must translate into practical action.
For Nigeria, the challenge is increasingly clear: preserving its lakes is not simply an environmental responsibility but also an economic and national-security imperative.
As climate change alters rainfall patterns, pollution increases and demand for water rises, the future of the country’s lakes will increasingly depend on whether environmental protection, water management, economic development and community interests can be brought under one coordinated national strategy.
