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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of water resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, has said the National Water Resources Bill currently before the National Assembly (NASS) is not intended to seize the powers of the state governments, communities and individuals as being insinuated in some quarters.
The Minister in an interactive session with journalists in Abuja,on Tuesday said the bill was conceived in good faith, as the power to allocate land for any water related project under the Bill is still vested on the governors of the respective states in Nigeria.
He said the bill is in line with global best practices in water resources development and management.
Adamu appeal to Nigerians to properly examine the bill, adding the those misinforming the public are business Marchants who are afraid of regulation in the sector.
“The water bill is conceived in good faith and there is nothing sinister about it and has no intention to usurp the powers of state governments, communities and individuals as widely insinuated by some sections of the country as the power to allocate land for any water related project under the Bill is still vested on the governors of the respective states in Nigeria.
“Interestingly, it is not the intention of the government to take over licensing and commercializing the use of water.
“This is not the intention, because the current Water Resources Acts (2004) (made pursuant to the Constitution) already made provision for this.
This bill is only trying to provide a more efficient framework for implementing that provision for necessary developmental purposes.
“Place these provisions side by side with the existing Water Resources Act 2004, that has been in force for more than 30 years now and it will be seen that there is no radical difference in words and spirit.
“To address some of the challenges of irrigation management and improvement of water supply delivery, the Bill further makes provision for farmer participation in maintenance of irrigation infrastructure as well as a WASH Fund to support States of the Federation in meeting financial investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects,” he said.
