Environmental stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to step up efforts in safeguarding Nigeria’s lakes from worsening environmental degradation.
The appeal, made during a recent forum on sustainable water management, stressed the urgent need for stronger policies and concrete action to protect water bodies that serve as critical sources of drinking water, irrigation, fisheries, and biodiversity.
Experts warned that unchecked pollution, siltation, over-exploitation, and poor land-use practices are threatening the ecological balance of several lakes across the country. Communities that depend on these water resources for farming, fishing, and domestic use are already facing declining yields and rising water scarcity.
While the Federal Government has previously launched initiatives such as the World Bank-assisted Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, campaigners argue that more targeted interventions are needed to address the specific challenges confronting Nigeria’s lakes.
They urged the government to strengthen enforcement of environmental laws, invest in ecosystem restoration, and involve local communities and the private sector in conservation efforts.
Stakeholders also emphasized that protecting lakes is not only an ecological necessity but also an economic imperative, warning that further neglect could undermine food security, public health, and livelihoods.
As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Environment had yet to issue an official response to the renewed calls.
