The government said the thrust of the Bill is for the government to be the custodian and in charge of all interstate water bodies.
Water Resources Minister Suleiman Adamu stated the government’s position on the Bill in his presentation at the seventh edition of “PMB Administration Scorecard series (2015-2023) yesterday in Abuja.
The National Water Bill is still pending in the House of Representatives, following its reintroduction for passage in June 2022.
When it was listed in the Order Paper for first reading, House members opposed it.
Adamu said the Bill is structured as a compendium of existing Acts to actualise the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) strategies stipulated in the National Water Resources Policy.
The Bill, the minister said, is designed to provide the required instrument needed to support efficient management of the nation’s water resources and accelerate the contribution of the Water sector to national development.
He added that the Bill also addresses the problem of proliferated groundwater exploitation without due consideration of its implication on the ecosystem.
