Nigerian Government to enact water protection laws

The Nigerian Government says it is committed to providing policies that will protect, control and regulate all the water sources in the country for the benefit of all.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu stated this during the National Validation Workshop on the Draft National Water Source Protection Policy, 2020 which was organised by the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, in Abuja.

Mr Adamu said that Nigeria appears to have abundant water resources and its sustainability is threatened by land degradation, deforestation, rapid population growth and other socio- economic development as well as climate change which has placed pressure on water resources.

He said that to address security issues related to Water Sources, a partnership approach is being proposed, involving Federal, State, and Local or communal government entities, private sector owner, operators and  representatives organizations academic professionals bodies and non profit and private volunteer organizations that share in the responsibility for protecting the Nation’s critical sector assets.

“There is a need to assist stakeholders in the sector and general populace to fully appreciate the very useful provision of the policy framework. It is noteworthy that the policy framework provides for the creation of an enabling environment for public and private sector investments. While establishing a Water Sector Development through tariffs, including creation of an enabling climate for increased private sector participation in service delivery through Public Private Partnership Management Contract “Mr Adamu said.

On his part, the Executive Director, Nigeria Integrated  Water Resources   Management Commission, Mr Umar Bashir Magashi, emphasized on the need to provide quantitative and qualitative water for Nigerians through professional and efficient management policies.

“Finalising the Policy and need for its speedy approval and enforcement has become pertinent because despite all efforts in the promulgation of various decrees, laws and policies in the past, due to some short comings, the sector has been faced with challenges of polluted water sources, deteriorated assets”. Mr Magashi said.

He explained that the National Water Source Protection Policy is an update of the existing policies, taking into consideration the latest developments in the sector, nationally and internationally.

The two days event had the theme “Finalization of the National Water Source Protection Policy Document”. Some pictures below:

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