By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Navy has called for stronger efforts to clean up and protect the country’s lakes and other water bodies.
The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, made the call on Thursday, at the 2026 World Lake Day celebration organised by the Naval Base Abuja at Jabi Lake, Abuja.
Abbas, represented by the Director of Civil-Military Cooperation, Commodore Innocent Udoudoh, also called on Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting the country’s lakes.
He said lakes had a major impact on water security, food security, power generation and environmental sustainability.
The CNS said Nigeria was blessed with several lakes, including Lake Chad, Kainji Lake and Jabi Lake, which served as lifelines for millions of people.
According to him, the lakes support fishing, agriculture, livestock grazing, water supply, transportation, tourism and biodiversity.
However, he said the water bodies faced challenges such as pollution, climate change, overfishing, illegal fishing and poor management.
He said Lake Chad had shrunk by about 90 per cent since 1963, leaving it with less than 150 square kilometres today.
Abbas said the development had affected about 30 million people in the Lake Chad Basin, with serious consequences for employment, nutrition and sanitation.
He said the theme of the celebration was a call for all stakeholders to take action, stressing that the responsibility for protecting lakes should not be left to the government or a few organisations.
The CNS urged stakeholders to control pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial waste and domestic sewage.
He also called for measures to reduce the effects of climate change, greater involvement of local communities in decision-making, and increased investment in research and monitoring.
Abbas appealed to participants to contribute in whatever way they could to the protection of the nation’s lakes.
He also urged the organisers to hold future celebrations closer to the lake so that participants could better connect with the issues being discussed.
Earlier, the Commander, Naval Base Abuja, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, said the event was part of the Navy’s civil-military cooperation activities and was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of lakes to the environment, economy and communities.
Oladipo said the theme of the celebration, “Revitalising Our Lakes, Advancing Ecosystem Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” highlighted the need for collective action to protect the nation’s water bodies.
According to him, lakes support water and food security, transportation, power generation, tourism, fishing and other economic activities.
He said the Nigerian Navy considered lakes strategic water sources that must be protected, adding that Naval Base Abuja had prioritised Jabi Lake and Usuma Dam for protection within the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Base has worked harmoniously with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, sister services, security agencies and other partners to promote security and environmental sustainability in Abuja and its environs,” he said.
The Commander said the celebration was preceded by a one-week clean-up exercise around Jabi Lake.
He urged individuals and organisations to adopt sustainable practices, including reducing pollution and conserving water, to protect the plants and animals that depend on healthy lakes.
The event featured a keynote address, a panel discussion, goodwill messages from stakeholders and light entertainment.
