Ogun State’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, has called for enhanced efforts in water resource management to mitigate climate change effects.
Speaking at the 2025 World Water Day event in Abeokuta, Oresanya warned that the mismanagement of water poses a significant threat to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
“Water resources mismanagement remains a critical issue, not just locally, but globally,” said Oresanya. “If all land ice were to melt, sea levels could rise by as much as 70 meters, leading to catastrophic outcomes worldwide.”
Highlighting this year’s theme, “Glacier Preservation,” Oresanya explained the importance of glaciers, which cover about 10% of the Earth’s land surface and hold over 60% of the world’s freshwater.
While Nigeria does not have glaciers, he pointed out that their depletion could lead to rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, and freshwater scarcity.
Oresanya emphasized that climate change impacts are already evident in the Southwest, with increased flooding, prolonged dry seasons, and reduced agricultural productivity. “These changes are clear signs of the environmental toll climate change is taking,” he said.
The Ogun State government has implemented several initiatives to address these issues, including the Water Abstraction Scheme, aimed at monitoring groundwater usage, and expanding access to clean water through the Ogun State Water Corporation.
However, Oresanya stressed that water conservation is a collective responsibility. “The preservation of our water bodies—whether glaciers, rivers, or wetlands—is a shared responsibility,” he asserted.
He urged industries, businesses, and individuals to work together with the government to protect water resources, reduce waste, and promote sustainable practices.