By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
The Commissioner for Energy and water resources Edo State, Hon.Washington Osifo has called on stakeholders to deemphasize profits and emphasize human health in its production of table water forconsumptions.
The Commissioner gave the charge in his keynote address on the occasions of the joint celebration of stakeholders, tagged,”BetterWater, Better Job” to mark World water Day at Baden-Baden hotels BeninCity.
While delivering his address, Honorable Osifo described the event assignificant particularly as it is in commemoration with world waterday celebration.
His Words:”Today is significant because we are celebrating world waterday. Our Emphasis is to see and be sure we have water that’s good forconsumptionA heathy person will naturally determine heathy society. If its truethat human body is made up of 75% water it therefore means water islife. When I came on board the first visit was from ATWARP. I told them i like your commendations for noting how we shuts down quacks lately. But I gave them the rules for the partnership. I want to saythank you for the partnership that is working. It is our desire that public tap will run again soon. We have not done it all but it is astatement of what we can do and what we shall do.
“The systems of the past administration failed us completely. It is my desire to complements what I meet here. I urge you to Keep on with the good job you doing. Deemphasized what you make as profits and emphasize human health”.
It will be recalled that, International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable managementof fresh water resources as recommended at the 1992 United NationsConference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March1993 as the first World Water Day.
The General Assembly however adopted resolution A/RES/47/193 of 22 December 1992 by which 22 March of each year was declared World Dayfor Water, to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) contained in Chapter 18 Fresh Water Resources of Agenda 21.
Meanwhile,The Chairman,Edo State Association of Table Water Producers,ATWARP, Mr Henry Eremiokhai in his remarks thanked participants while assuringstakeholders of their commitments to rid the society of quackery inline with water day act recommendations.
