The role of biotechnology in water resource and ecosystem management

Water scarcity has become a global phenomenon. This is mainly due to the increase in population, global climatic change, drought cycles and decertification (particularly in the Sub-Saharan Africa). Presently, about 2 billion people in 80 countries around the world suffer from chronic water shortages and Nigeria is unfortunately one of such countries. Many of the capital cities in Nigeria do not have adequate water supply. A number of water-borne and water related diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and dracunculiasis, which have become endemic in Nigeria, could easily be eradicated through proper sanitation and provision of adequate clean water. Without exaggeration, our industrial and agricultural productivities and consequently our social and economic emancipation as a nation are very much dependent on the availability and quality of water.