The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, says there is nothing new in the Water Resources Bill as it is derived from four already existing Nigerian water resources laws.
Adamu was speaking on the bill while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.
According to Adamu, the four existing laws covering the water resources sector have been enforced in the country already.
“There is the Water Resources Act, 2004. This is the old Decree 101 of 1993.
“The second one which is probably the oldest, is the River Basin Development Authorities Act.
“The fourth one is the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency Act.This Act is the newest and was enacted in 2010.
“All these laws exist and were enforced and govern the water resources sector,” the Minister explained.
Adamu also said it is not in any way a Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) programme of the government for the benefit of Fulani, as being misunderstood by some Nigerians.
He said it is a bill that will be of immense benefit to all Nigerians who will have access to the country’s water resources no matter their socio-economic status.
“Now, why should we be having fragmental laws, we have Water Basin Act, we have Water Resources law, we have Water Resources Institute Act. If we put everything together under one statute it will be better for the country,” he said.
