The Nigerian Navy, through its Naval Base in Abuja, on Wednesday joined the global community to celebrate World Lake Day 2025, with a strong call for collective responsibility in safeguarding Nigeria’s freshwater resources.
The event, held at the Pearl Hotel, Jabi Lake, Abuja, drew participants from the Armed Forces, government agencies, paramilitary organisations, environmental experts, and other stakeholders, who deliberated on the challenges facing inland water bodies and proffered sustainable solutions.
In his welcome address, the Chief Host, Commodore Oluseyi Ekundayo Oladipo, said the theme of the celebration — “Securing Our Lakes, Sustaining Our Future: Stewardship for Clean and Safe Waters” — was deliberately chosen to highlight the link between water security and national development.
“The programme is designed not only to create environmental awareness but also to strengthen civil-military relations while fostering collaboration to preserve lakes and water resources for the nation’s water and food security,” he noted.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Guest of Honour, Rear Admiral Olusanya Abiodun Bankole, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, stressed that lake stewardship is a collective duty that goes beyond government or a single institution.
He urged stakeholders to adopt sustainable management practices, including pollution control, research and monitoring, community engagement, and climate change mitigation, to protect Nigeria’s lakes for future generations.
The commemoration reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s role in safeguarding maritime and inland waters as part of its broader contribution to national security and sustainable development.
