Federal Ministry of Water Resources Report, Abuja) – The Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe has called on women and youths in the country to desist from violent actions in whatever circumstances they find themselves. She also encouraged them to join the campaign of WAGEPEACE all over the country initiated by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

The Minister made the call when she received the Director – General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri on an advocacy visit to her office in Abuja on Thursday 19th February 2015. The Minister urged all Nigerians, particularly women and youths to actively participate in the WAGEPEACE Campaign. Adding, the campaign is aimed at encouraging Nigerians to imbibe non-violent ways of settling disputes with the sole aim of preventing chaos in the society.

“I am calling on women and youths because they are true owners of Nigeria. We are at a point where some people want to create problems for Nigeria; but I believe that women can stand to see that Nigeria is solidly one country. We cannot sit down and see few selfish people trying to destroy the country by heating up the polity and causing disaffection among us. It is important that we collectively put our hands and senses together to see what we can do to ensure peace in all parts of Nigeria,” she emphasized.

Speaking on water conflicts, Sarah Reng Ochekpe noted that the Ministry has since set up modalities for resolving differences among water users; indicating that the water sector is very conscious of this since water is one resource that is important for human survival, being a resource that can cause conflict. “That is why in our own system, we have the ‘Water Users Association’ in different communities to ensure that people are able to come together to dialogue on how to manage this very important resource,” the Minister explained.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Director – General of NOA, Mike Omeri said that the essence of the programme was to sensitize the general public on the need for peaceful co-existence and national integration among the citizenry of Nigeria.

In another development, the Minister of Water Resources and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Istifanus Musa were decorated with the ‘Ambassadors of Peace in Nigeria Award.’