By Scholastica JOSEPH, Makurdi
The Federal government has described as safe and unharmful, the proposed water bill before the National Assembly, refuting claims and speculations that the bill is contagious to Nigerians.
Minister for Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, stated this at a two-day sensitization workshop on National Water Resources Master Plan and Water Convention for stakeholders in the North Central Geo-political zone, held in Makurdi, Benue state.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Water Resources and Technical Support Services, Mrs Alice Ojuwu, assured that the water resources bill seeks to implement the established 2013 master plan and water convention initiated by the ministry.
According to him, the master plan was established to assuage the needs of water supply, provide assess to portable water, enable access water for irrigation to boost food security, Hydropower generation and good hygiene around the environment.
Mrs ojuwu said regulating the Master plan to respond to the increasing water demands would improve generation of revenue for commercial and industrial organizations and ensure optimal development of the water sector.
She noted that the water convention cannot be executed without the sensitization of relevant stakeholders in the focus north central geopolitical zones including Taraba state.
Speaking, on the convention on the protection and use of Trans-boundary water courses and international lakes, resource persons, Bukar Abba Gana stated that Nigeria possesses major Rivers of Niger and Benue which provides enormous benefits of power generation and distribution amongst other domestic uses to Nigerians.
Bukar Gana Abba said Nigeria with the outstanding natural heritage stands a better negotiating ground with the international community to attract more dividends as such needs to protect and regulate it water boundaries with external forces.
