The Federal Government has concluded plans to
partner with the State of Israel to tackle water and
environmental challenges in the country.
The decision was taken at joint conference with the
Israeli Embassy, the ministries of water resources
and environment in Abuja on Thursday.
Mr Musa Istifanus, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Water Resources, said that the aim of the
conference was to deliberate on ways to provide
solution to water technology and environmental
control.
Istifanus said that the ministry was determined to
acquire Israeli’s technology to provide solution to
water and environmental issues in Nigeria.
According to Istifanus, the aim of the collaborative
meeting by the two ministries with Israeli embassy is
to discuss on the forthcoming conference that will
be holding in Israel in October.
“The entire discussion is centred toward the
forthcoming conference on Water Technology and
Environmental Control (WATEC).
“This topic is very dear to Nigeria at this period
because of the effects of climate change which is a
global reality.
“It is our belief that in this meeting, we will come up
with a workable position that will assist in reaching
the aim of the conference in Israel.
“And I hope at the end of the meeting, Nigeria and
the State of Israel will develop a partnership that will
assist humanity for life,’’ he said.
While presenting a paper titled: “Possible Areas of
Collaboration with the State of Israel’’, Istifanus said
that Federal Government had taken steps to improve
the nation’s water resources and its environment.
According to him, virtually every part of the country
has sufficient water, but the challenge really is
which technology is more suitable for which
particular area of the country.
“ This is one of the reasons why we desire to
collaborate with the State of Israel to further
harness our water resources and the environment for
more productivity.’’
The permanent secretary said that Nigeria was
practicing irrigation system of agriculture with large
arid zones similar to that of Israel, adding that the
country needed to acquire Israeli’s skill for
improvement.
Also, Mrs Nana Mede, the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Environment, remarked that the event
came at a better time when Nigerian government
was trying to provide a sustainable environment for
its citizens.
“I wish to say that this is an opportunity to look at
the outcome of the conference in Israel and I belief
that the outcome will be of great importance to
Nigeria.
“And we all know that even though, Israel is a desert
more or less, but when you visit the State of Israel,
you will find fresh fruits, vegetables and food all year
round,’’ Mede said.
Mede said that Nigeria government would want to
know how Israel had been able to convert its desert
land to fruitful land to improve, especially the
northern part of the country.
Mr Raanan Adin, a keynote speaker, who presented a
paper titled: “Integrated Water Cycle Challenges and
Solutions“, said that the secret behind Israel’s
improvement in its water and environment lied on
discovery of technologies.
According to Adin, Israel in 1964 takes water from
the Sea of Galilee down to other parts of the country
by converting the sea water in to drinkable water
through the process known as “desalinisation’’.
He said that by the process, the salty water from the
sea could be converted to freshwater by removing its
salty and mineral content.
“Israel is the first country in the world to adopt this
technology. Israel also undertakes other processes
including wastewater reclamation among others to
convert them into potable water.
“These standards are a major driving force in the
development of water, industries and sustainable
energy sector and through this, Israel has been able
to overcome its challenges,’’ Adin said.
Earlier, Mr Uriel Palti, Israeli’s Ambassador to Nigeria,
represented by Ambassador Benny Omer, said that
Israeli’s government was committed to assist Nigeria
to overcome its water and environmental challenges.Source. Guardian. Mek una water ground for me o. I am + 1 today. I dedicate today to God my Creator.