Mr. Suleiman Adamu, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources, has urged the private sector to contribute to the nation’s supply of potable water. When he was a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja he made the statement. He claimed that spending money on utilities would put an end to the continued politicking and lack of dedication on the part of state and local governments. The minister claims that, in accordance with the constitution, it is the duty of the state governments to provide water to the people.
He promised that the Federal Government would continue to do its part to keep its dams filled with water all year long. Adamu said it was concerning that many Nigerians believed that water was a social service that should be provided without charge and argued that, when used wisely, water could be a valuable economic resource. He claimed that efforts were being made to corporately restructure water agencies so they could generate income in a long-term way in collaboration with development partners. A state-owned organization or asset is corporatized when it is transformed into a corporation.
Corporate social responsibility has been entrusted to the private sector.
The minister claimed that as part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene strategy, the private sector and charitable organizations had been approached to engage in activities related to corporate social responsibility that would provide water for the people. According to Adamu, one of the best ways to encourage private sector investment is to increase the capacity of water institutions through an efficient regulatory framework like the proposed Water Resources Bill. With an effective public water supply, the minister argued that Nigeria had no business drilling indiscriminately for boreholes in response to the proliferation of them in the nation. He claimed that while borehole drilling could not be stopped by the federal government, the possibility of groundwater depletion was alarming.
According to him, licenses must be issued to businesses that mine water without restriction, and he gives the impression that those who break the rules will soon face consequences. Regarding the country’s river basin development, he claimed that the basin authorities had fulfilled their obligation to create jobs by transferring 50,000 hectares of land for industrial farming. He also stated that for optimal performance and repositioning, the ministry had started the partial commercialization of the Niger-Delta, Ogun-Osun, Upper-Niger, and Sokoto-Rima River basins in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
Introduction of river training to control recurrent flooding of rivers.
Adamu officially confirmed the implementation of river training to control the Niger and Benue rivers’ recurrent flooding in an effort to prevent disasters and humanitarian crises. He claimed that the ministry’s Annual Flood Outlook 2022 had shown widespread severe flooding, necessitating the need for Nigerians to exercise caution. He stated that the river training would involve dredging, the construction of some structural elements, such as dykes or embankments, as well as the reclamation of some floodplains.
Having a masterplan was the first step, adding that the proposed river training would cost about $14 billion and would take more than one administration to complete. While citing examples of developed nations’ attempts to tame their rivers, such as Hungary, Adamu claimed that Nigeria would learn from their mistakes and effectively implement their methods. The minister continued by discussing Nigeria’s hosting of the World Toilet Summit in November, saying it would be an opportunity to highlight the nation’s initiatives to expand sanitation and hygiene. He claimed that having access to a toilet was the most affordable medicine and that it was an investment that could solve more than 60% of all the nation’s health issues.
Poor water access is linked to a higher burden enteric disease.
High morbidity and mortality rates among children under five are largely caused by a lack of access to better water and sanitation in Nigeria. Due to the use of contaminated drinking water and unsanitary conditions, people are more susceptible to water-borne illnesses, such as diarrhea, which kills more than 70,000 children under the age of five every year. A lack of access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is linked to 73% of the burden of diarrheal and enteric diseases, which is disproportionately carried by children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Children who experience WASH-related illness on a regular basis are more likely to miss school and suffer from malnutrition. Only 26.5% of the population utilizes modernized sanitation and drinking water systems.
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If state and local governments were to spend money on utilities, it would put an end to the ongoing politicking and lack of dedication displayed by these levels of government.
It is the responsibility of the state governments to supply water to the populace; yet, it appears that these governments are not carrying out their duties, which is unfortunate.
It was determined that having access to a toilet was the most cost-effective form of medical treatment, as well as an investment that had the potential to resolve more than sixty percent of all of the nation’s health difficulties.
Long-term revenue generation was the goal of the corporate reorganization of water agencies, which was being pursued with the help of development partners.
Evidently, we all know that it is the government responsibility to provide stable and clean water supply for the populace. Buh if capable private sector also contribute to the water supply it will boost the development significantly.
Join of hand of both government and private sector together for the provide of clean supply water will bring a big boost to supply of water which will make things easily for the citizen
It is quite unfortunate we are thinking of commercializing water resources. It is not supposed to be. The government should make water available to we everyone. Commercializing it will only benefit those that can afford it.
water to be commercialized again it’s a no no for me,what has been the results oof other things been commercialized nothing has been gained out of it, Instead government should put in more affrts to provide portable water for the citizenry.
Why commercialized water. It is government duty to provide and supply clean water for it citizen.
Due to the use of contaminated drinking water and unsanitary conditions, people are more susceptible to waterborne illnesses, such as diarrhea. Lack of access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene as resulted to the death of more than 70,000 children under the age of five every year. I have nothing against the proposed amount so far it meets and fulfil expectations. The people in charge should be trustworthy and reliable.
Nigerians has a very bad control of water resources,the government and private sector has alot to do in maintaining and provide portable water to masses.
The provision of water supply to the general populace is mandated by the Constitution as being an obligation of the respective state governments.
In Nigeria, a lack of access to proper water and sanitation is partly to blame for the high morbidity and death rates among children under five.
The proposed Water Resources Bill is an example of a modern regulatory framework that would help strengthen water institution capability and hence attract private sector investment.
Children who suffer from illnesses that are directly related to WASH are at a greater risk of being malnourished and missing school on a regular basis. Only 26.5 percent of the population makes use of today’s more advanced sanitation and drinking water facilities.
The lack of access to better water and sanitation in Nigeria is partly to blame for the high illness and death rates among children under the age of five in that country.
The high illness and mortality rates among children under the age of five in Nigeria are in part due to the lack of access to better water and sanitation.
In the provision of portable drinkable water our government has done nothing. We are left to provide our water for ourselves that is why many people are suffering from waterborne diseases. Government should please play their in the provision of the masses basic amenities which includes portable water.
the Federal Government would continue to do its part to keep its dams filled with water all year long. However , Nigerians believed that water was a social service that should be provided without charge and argued that, when used wisely, water could be a valuable economic resource.
When it comes to provision of portable water our government has performed poorly. We now deep wells and boreholes to get portable water. What a shame.