By Fatima Saka
Minister of Water Resource, Engr. Sulieman Adamu has called on Nigerians to critically look into the Water Resources Bill, with the support of the government in ensuring sustainability in national economic and international attraction.
The minister made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing the press on agitations rounding the bill at the federal ministry of water resources conference hall.
Speaking on, Adamu said that people are taking water for granted, forgetting the water values and sanitation which has light up negative perceptions against the Water Resource bill from certain segments of the societies that don’t appreciate what the government is doing.
Engr. Adamu lamented that the scorn of some citizens fighting efforts of the government when there are agitations and complaints against water service and delivering its mandate.
The Minister added that there is nothing New about the bill, but just to address the water decrees to become an act, the fragments of the water resource with the laws of River Basin authority, Nigeria hydrological, and instructions Act in ensuring balancing in sustainability.
He further stated that substantial in service delivery of water in the state, also International communities are interested in investing in water resources but there is no legal framework to work with.
The minister emphasised that the bill was initiated over 40years ago and that the bill has undergone stages of consultation from different experts who has done some holistic job on the bill, only to adjustments with international practices.
Adamu further pleaded to Nigerians to look at the bill positively, while National Assembly deliberate on it, to reinstate into law, that there is nothing to be affaird of.
“There is nowhere in the bill that the federal government would take over land from any community, not even an inch of land has been paddled by some group.
“These people want to continue to lie to the people. Some are doing things because they want to pay for the relevant usage of the water. Others are ignorant, while some oppose any policy of the government.”
