Nigeria's Water Ministry Marks World Rivers Day with Action

On September 28, 2026, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, celebrated World Rivers Day under the theme “No Forests, No Rivers; No Water, No Life.” The event featured a media briefing led by the Honourable Minister, Engr. Prof Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, and a symbolic river-cleaning and tree-planting exercise at Wupa River in Gbesa Community, Abuja. Prof. Utsev emphasized the critical role of rivers and forests in supporting agriculture, food security, and biodiversity, while addressing threats such as pollution and climate change.

He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and called for collaboration among various stakeholders. Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, FNSE, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, also stressed the connection between healthy ecosystems and sustainable water resources, highlighting the need for practical actions to protect Nigeria's rivers.