Water Resources Bill: Governors to Present their Postions to FG

By Our Reporter

Abuja (Precise Post) – State governors will review the contentious Water Resources Bill to present a common position to the federal government.

Recall that the bill had continued to generate controversy as some prominent socio- cultural groups have rejected the  bill.

In a communique issued after a teleconference meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum ( NGF), Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi  said all the water related bills will be reviewed by the executive council and attorney-generals of states.

The minister of Water Resources Engineer Sulieman Hussein Adamu had earlier briefed the forum on the National Water Resources Bill 2020. 

The minister emphasised  that  the  basic  philosophy  behind  the  bill  is  to  integrate  water resources  management  in  the  country  by  bringing  all  laws  related  to  water resources management into one consolidated code.

He noted that the new bill is consistent  with  the  Land  Use  Act,  and  will  promote  equitable  development, management,  use  and  conservation  of  Nigeria’s  surface  and  groundwater resources.

Consequently, Fayemi said, Forum  members  while  commending  the  Minister  of  Water  Resources  for taking  an  integrated  approach  on  water  resource  management  as  a  national  good, “Resolved  that  the  proposed  Bill  and  other  relevant  laws  including  the  River  Basins Development Authorities Act 2004; the Natural Water  Resources Act 2004; and  the Nigeria Hydrological Resources Act 2004 will be reviewed by their Attorneys General and Executive Councils of States after which a common position of States will be presented to Water Resources.”

Fayemi who is also the chairman of the NGF said the governors commended   the World Bank for facilitating ongoing activities geared towards accelerating the uptake of the CARES during the COVID-19 period.

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