States’ refusal to invest in water impedes access to potable water – Minister
NAN-AE-13
Access
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, July 6, 2017 (NAN) The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has said the refusal of state governments to invest in providing surface water was a major factor why Nigerians lack access to potable water.
Adamu said this when members of the Nigeria Association of Hydrogeologists paid him a courtesy call in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Adamu, this challenge is a major reason why everyone resorts to drilling boreholes indiscriminately thereby leading to groundwater depletion and salt water intrusion.
“In the last 15 years, I have been so scared with the proliferation of boreholes without any regulation.
‘‘Believe me, I have been running a battle with our budget to try to curtail this.
‘‘I have been very mindful about the lack of any meaningful study and data on the exploitation of groundwater.
“This is more common in our states; for years now, our states have refused to invest, even when they have the surface water they can tap from,’’ he said.
The minister added that states did not invest, ‘‘even when so many dams have been constructed by this ministry over the years with source of bulk or raw water for the states to tap into to provide surface water for urban and semi-urban communities.
“Many state governments have found it more expedient to have quick fixes, to drill boreholes, they are not thinking in the long-term but short-term.”
Adamu said the ministry was working to see that state governments plan policies and programmes to restore urban water supply schemes.
He said the Federal Government was working tirelessly to see that the dams have enough water to meet the needs of all Nigerians, hence the focus on effective surface and groundwater resources management.
He said it was also saddening to note that Nigeria lacks effective data management system to monitor the number of boreholes drilled in specific locations.
The minister quoted a World Bank report which puts access to water dropping from 32 per cent in 1990 to seven per cent in 2015.
He noted that the reduction in access to water was a serious problem that must be tackled without delay.
Adamu, however, said when the National Water Resources Bill which is before the National Assembly is passed, these issues would be addressed.
He stated that the bill, when passed into law, is comprehensive enough to meet the target of the Water Resources sector.
He added that the ministry was partnering with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency to monitor groundwater resources.
He gave assurance that with the right data and equipment in place, efforts would be made to meet overall development in the sector.
Mr Charles Olumese, President of the association, said the visit was aimed at bringing to the notice of the minister irregularities in the water resources sector.
Olumese said increasing rate of poor waste water management has also led to salt water intrusion into water sources.
He claimed that the development was the leading cause of water-borne diseases such as cholera and diaorrhea, especially in children.
The president stressed the need to strengthen collaboration among tiers of government to check arbitrary drilling of boreholes in the country. (NAN)
TAK/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
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