NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

As we celebrate World Water Day March 20, 2008 would mark another world water day celebration. The UN is taking this year’s celebration serious in view of the fact that the set MDGs cannot be met without concrete action on water and sanitation issues. It is estimated that two billion people lack access to safe water while another two billion lack access to proper sanitation. The irony is that the more we develop industrially, the more dirt we have.In other words, the plan in sanitation are hampered by economic growth. As Nigeria prepares to become one of the 20 strongest economies by the year 2020, are we prepared to join one of the neatest countries by the same year or are we just solving one problem to create another? As long as we desire to compete with the Asian tigers, we are at the verge of losing our dignity of proper plan to save our water and environment. Thus, lip service should not be paid to the issue of safe water and sanitation but rather a concretised action plan which should work abreast the economic plan should be set up to ease our work. Water has been identified as both economic and social good, so, it takes an important role in the economic activities of any country and should be taken seriously. It has also been identified as a cross- cutting substance since UN’s MDGs cannot be met without access to safe water and good sanitation. It is very clear that attaining sustainable vision 2020 by Nigeria might be a mirage if availability of safe water, and clean environment are not considered as important. Water and agriculture ministries should stand separately to give a concretised plan for access to water for all by 2020. All the reports released in 2006 and 2007 rated Nigeria low as far as water is concerned and up till this moment. We might retain this position as activities are not encouraging. As the world celebrates this year’s Water Day, we should consider the economic loss that unsafe water consumption will bring on Nigerians and Nigeria. Michael Oludare Ale, safewaterafrica@yahoo.com.

Let’s embrace America I wish to use this medium to strongly appeal to the Federal Government to reconsider the quest by the United States of America to site the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Nigeria. On page 12 of the Nigerian Tribune of the 6/2/2008, the Minister of Defense, Alhaji Yayale, was quoted as saying that Nigeria would not host AFRICOM being initiated by the USA. This is a burning national issue that requires an indept evaluation as to its merits and demerits. In this case, an objective review of the matter will clearly reveal that its advantage outweighs its disadvantage, if there’s any. Consequently, the National Assembly is duty bound to deliberate and come up with an amicable decision in the interest of our nation. Basically, there is a compelling need to disabuse our minds from the misleading fear that the USA will, in the process, recolonise Nigeria. Those advising the Federal Government to reject the offer on the recolonisation grounds are living in the past when slavery and colonisation were rife. There is nothing to justify this impression because USA was founded on the tenets of democratic freedom and self-determination and has never colonised any country. Moreover, being a rich world power USA has consistently proved her mettle by using her money and resources to promote the well-being of the world as a whole. This it has demonstrated by fighting for human rights, democracy and independence of many nations as well as eradication of poverty and diseases among the mankind. It has also opened her doors for immigrants. Right now, millions of Nigerians have migrated to the USA and are working and living comfortably there. Based on the cosmopolitan and democratic nature of the USA, instead of accepting the parochial and retrogressive views of those who are against the USA proposal, Nigeria should see the idea as a friendly and beneficial one which can draw her closer to the acclaimed super power and the father of real technology and industrialisation which Nigeria needs greatly to banish under-development and attain President Yar’Adua’s lofty vision to transform Nigeria into one of the most 20 developed nations before 2020. We cannot perform this feat alone. It will be recalled that countries that have hobnobbed and collaborated with the USA have benefited immensely as they have derived their technology and economic development from it. These include South Korea, Japan, Egypt, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to mention a few. Essentially, Nigeria needs to seek her technology and industrial transformation from a prominent country such as the USA as our country cannot do it alone and keeping away from the USA cannot help our situation. Chief L. K. Fadoju, P.O. Box 367, Ondo, Ondo State
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Columnists/Contributor

As we celebrate World Water Day

Let’s embrace America