By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Federal Government may have drawn a line in the sand against those opposed to the National Water Resources Bill 2020 currently before the National Assembly.
This fact became obvious on Tuesday when the government not only vowed to forge ahead with the bill, but also accused those criticising it of either being ill-informed or mischievous.
The FG’s position was restated by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, at a press conference in Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, was with him at the conference.
Lai Mohammed who said those condemning the bill have either not read it or do not understand its provisions, insisted it was for the good of the nation and has no hidden agenda.
He also said the government “cannot rule out deliberate mischief by some of those who have been portraying the bill as a new source of conflict.”
Insisting that the bill was not designed to cause water wars in the country, the minister said on the contrary, it is a panacea to likely water conflicts in the country.
Claiming that there is no hidden agenda behind the bill, Mohammed said contrary to insinuations, it is also not a subterfuge reintroduction of the controversial RUGA policy.
According to Mohammed: “There is nothing new about the National Water Resources Bill. This is because it is an amalgamation of Water Resources Laws that have been in existence for a long time.
“These are Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004, the River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A, LFN 2004 and the National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004.”
Explaining why the laws are being re-packaged as the National Water Resources Bill 2020, the minister elucidated, “They are being re-enacted with necessary modifications to bring them in line with current global trends as well as best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
“The overall objective of this amalgamation is the efficient management of the Water Resources Sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the well-being of its citizens.
“The Bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface and ground water for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreation).
“The Bill will ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons.
“Critics contend that the Bill is aimed at taking the resources of a certain part of the country for the use of herders. In other words, the Federal Government is seeking to implement RUGA by subterfuge.
“We also want to state that the Bill is for the good of the nation, and has no hidden agenda whatsoever.”
On his part, the Minister of Water Resources said the bill predated the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“This was never a Buhari bill, it is a bill for Nigeria. It started in 2008 long before the President thought of winning election.
“We are therefore using this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the Bill to avoid being misled by those who have chosen to politicise it.
“We also want to state that the Bill is for the good of the nation, and has no hidden agenda whatsoever.
“Finally, when passed into law, the National Water Resources Bill 2020 will provide for the enhancement of the Nigeria Water Sector, in line with global best practices.”
