The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, has warned that Nigeria’s rivers are facing increasing pollution pressure from population growth, urbanisation, untreated wastewater and other human activities.
Utsev issued the warning on Monday as Nigeria joined other countries to commemorate the 2026 World Rivers Day, themed, “No Forests, No Rivers, No Water, No Life.”
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the minister described rivers as essential to human survival, environmental sustainability and national development, noting their importance to agriculture, domestic and industrial water supply, fisheries, biodiversity and livelihoods.
He, however, said Nigeria’s rivers were increasingly threatened by indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, agricultural runoff, erosion, sand mining and untreated wastewater, alongside the growing effects of climate change.
According to Utsev, addressing the challenges requires an integrated and sustainable approach to managing the country’s watersheds and water resources.
“Our rivers are not merely channels through which water flows; they are the lifeblood of our communities and ecosystems,” he said.
The minister said the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation was strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management across the country while working with relevant agencies to protect and restore watersheds and river catchments.
He stressed the importance of collaboration among the Federal, state and local governments, communities, traditional institutions, the private sector, development partners and civil society organisations.
Utsev noted that activities carried out upstream could have significant consequences for communities and ecosystems downstream, making coordinated management of water resources necessary.
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He also linked the pollution of rivers and other waterways to sanitation challenges, warning that untreated sewage and wastewater entering water bodies could pose risks to public health, livelihoods and water supplies.
“There can be no meaningful conversation about healthy rivers without addressing sanitation,” the minister said.
Utsev called for an end to open defecation and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse, plastics and harmful effluents into waterways.
He also urged Nigerians to protect and restore forests and wetlands, adopt responsible wastewater management practices, use water efficiently and strengthen cooperation among stakeholders involved in water and environmental management.
The minister said the ministry was improving its capacity to collect, analyse and apply data on rainfall, river flows, groundwater and water quality.
He stressed that reliable data and evidence-based management were essential to addressing emerging water-related challenges and improving the sustainability of Nigeria’s water resources.
Utsev further said the Federal Government’s “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign had recorded measurable progress, while calling on the media to intensify public awareness of sanitation, environmental protection and responsible water use.
“Keeping plastics, refuse and other pollutants out of our drains, streams and rivers is not simply an environmental responsibility; it is a contribution to protecting public health and securing the future of our communities,” he added.