FG Govt To Sanction Unlicensed Water Users

FG Govt To Sanction Unlicensed Water Users

The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) has commenced the review of its laws that would enable it to sanction all unlicensed water users in the country.

The Commission’s Executive Director, Magashi Bashir, disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of a two-day Review of Water Use Licence Terms and Conditions Meeting in Abuja.

He warned of the dangers of the proliferation of boreholes in Abuja.

According to him, the diversity of individual borehole concentrations in a particular environment causes an unprecedented disaster.

He noted the need to standardise all documents targeted at repositioning and regulating the water resources sector.

He added that the non-passage of the water resources bill by the outgone 9th National Assembly had caused a lot of challenges in the industry.

“Continuous stakeholder engagement in the water resources administration in the country is necessary for effective and result-oriented regulations, particularly regarding water Use Licence Terms and Conditions. Under my watch, the commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure a proper licensing regime.

“The non-passage of the water resources bill has caused a lot of setbacks in the sector, including the issuance of licenses and the terms and conditions of the licenses.

“We are reviewing this to standardize the document for water licenses. Also, to have a consultative forum where the states will be involved in whatever we do.

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“In individual boreholes, you don’t apply for a license; you are allowed to have a water source, but we are saying there is a need for data for the boreholes being drilled randomly everywhere. Particularly the estates that spring up. They are drilling into the basement of every single house. The likely thing to happen is what happened in Mpape. Nigeria is not in a mobile zone, but human activities can lead to some disasters because we don’t yield to advice.

“On the other hand, it is because we don’t have water board service everywhere. The water board is supposed to be working, but that is not the case. It has become a thing of ego that everybody wants to drill a borehole; it should be so. Several persons can come together to drill a borehole; it would serve them”, he stated.

Earlier, Emmanuel Udoh, delivering a paper on ‘Optimising Water Allocation Through Revised License Terms and Conditions’, harped on the need for Nigeria to reposition itself and enjoy the untapped resources in the industry.

Recall that the 9th National Assembly did not pass the National Water Resources Bill, 2023, following its generated controversy.

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