The Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, on Thursday, disclosed reasons behind his ministry’s insistence for the National Assembly to pass the Water Resources Bill into law.
Controversy has trailed the water bill since its introduction, as many Nigerians continue to reject the document.
But despite the rejection of the bill in several quarters, the minister, while answering questions from journalists in Makurdi during a two-day sensitisation workshop on the 2013 National Water Resources Master Plan and the United Nations Water Convention for Stakeholders in Nasarawa, Kogi, Plateau, Niger and Benue States in the North Central, including Taraba, said the ministry would not relent to push for the passage of the bill.
Oke Idunn purifying the water she got from the trenches with potassium alum. Photo Credit: Samad Uthman/Dataphyte
“There are so many projections on water demand, and it is true the development of identified programmes will help us to meet up with all the demands: water supply, hydro power generation, irrigation, access to potable water, good hygiene; all these are part of the bill.
“It’s true that people have expressed their displeasure over the bill but the water bill is not harmful at all. If the bill is passed there are so many things to gain from it,” the minister said.
Represented by his Director, Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services, Mrs Alice Ojowu, the minister added that the projection for water supply was for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes.
Adamu also disclosed that a consultant had been engaged to review the bill, particularly to look at the contentious (grey) areas in the master plan and allow ones acceptable by stakeholders and Nigerians that will drive the process of having a good bill.
