Our reporter
The issue of water for peace, Greenland and development dominated discussions at a one-day multi-stakeholder town hall meeting organised by the Society for Water and Sanitation, NEWSAN.
The one-day event which brought together stakeholders from faith-based organisations, government ministries, departments and agencies also marked the formal launch of the ‘Keep Your Promise, KYP.
Keep Your Promise campaign is an initiative by NEWSAN, aimed at holding public officers accountable to the people on their promises at election.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Philip Gompang represented by Mr. Yilkudi Kevin Golen, expressed optimism that the event and subsequent ones would produce persons who would be accountable and a populace ready to demand accountability from promise-makers.
“Things must change if the citizenry must feel the impact of governance as a right, not a privilege. Let the discussions be frank and forward and may the aims and objectives be realized.”
Guest speaker at the event held at the CRUDAN Conference Centre in Jos, Program Coordinator, Plateau State Sustainable Urban-Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program, SURWASH, Engr. Jonathan Malan submitted that energy and water were becoming increasingly scarce resources adding that people are facing growing threats to their health as well as vital food supplies.
According to him, millions worldwide were suffering the accumulated effects of many types of crises.
Engr. Malan added that due to demographic growth and uncontrolled urbanization, suffering was becoming more intense and more brutal.
Speaking on the theme “Water for Peace Green Land and Development: The Plateau we want to see,” Engr. Malan submitted that peace and dignity, and a fairer world in the long run depend on access to development opportunities and the need to protect the natural world.
He said that to develop and protect nature, there was a need to act with mutual respect and find a sustainable balance between the use of the increasingly coveted natural resources and the need to protect them.
The SURWASH Coordinator who described water as one of the natural resources that had become a rare commodity in terms of both quantity and quality said “Due to our careless domestic, industrial and agricultural uses of water, resources in our rivers, boreholes, water tables, dams and reservoirs are under pressure and rapidly being depleted.
While advocating for more action towards water security, Engr. Malan said “Water is first of all a question of balance between supply and demand. As the demand for water increases, supply is insufficient.
“At the global and local scale, our lives depend on the availability of water, If we fail to manage its availability, we condemn entire populations to be excluded from development and equitable enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
“Collectively and individually, this is our responsibility, or rather, these are our responsibilities.”
He further submitted that to secure water use, there was a need to find the right approach between “Water Now and Water for the Future.”
Said he: “Securing resources means finding the additional water resources needed to meet demand and respect the balance. Everybody knows that the days of easy water are gone. We must build to ensure that every drop of water is useful for these basic needs.”
Earlier in a welcome address, State Coordinator Society for Water and Sanitation, NEWSAN, Dr. Vings Lomak told the gathering that the essence of the KYP project was to engage the ambassadors of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene on the pledge made by the elected public office holders during the 2023 elections as found in the Charter of Demand.
Dr Lohmak said, “The KYP campaign was a follow-up on the works of WASH ambassadors in assessment and evaluation of impact as well as document the results of the performance of the WASH ambassadors and present them before the public for judgment.”
Highlighting some of the expected outcomes of the project, Dr Lohmak listed an increase in budgetary allocation, prompt release of budgetary provisions and a good measure of investment among the outcomes being expected.
The town hall meeting featured a questions and answers session.
There were also goodwill messages from MDAs, the organised private sector and the Civil Society groups.
Highpoint of the event was the formal unveiling and launch of the KYP project.