Caritas Nigeria Faults Reintroduced National Water Bill, Says Has “far reaching effects”

“Although the National Water Resources Bill guarantees citizens the right to use water, it guards against private ownership of water and if signed into law, would lead to further centralization of power and the nation’s resources, thereby countering ongoing efforts towards devolution of powers,” officials of Caritas Nigeria say.

They add that Section 2(1) of the proposed law, which affirms water as a “resource common to all people” has been misinterpreted as “assigning terrestrial water bodies and sources under the control and supervision of the Federal government.”

Caritas Nigeria officials further express their disagreement with Section 13 of the proposed Bill, which seeks to empower the Minister of Water Resources to formulate national policy and water resources management strategy.

“A higher level of government … should not perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level,” say the Caritas Nigeria officials. 

They continue, “The principle of federalism should be respected and the rights of States and Local Governments to jurisdictions as it relates to domestic water use and protection must be protected by the federal government.”

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As a way forward, Caritas Nigeria officials urge the Nigeria’s Federal government to consider “a comprehensive and holistic consultation with citizen groups across the board and States, to ensure that every concerned section of the populace is offered the opportunity to express their concerns about the Bill.”

Instead of promoting “contentious and ill-motivated legislation,” Caritas Nigeria officials urge the Federal government of Nigeria to focus on primary issues including insecurity, unemployment and poverty among others that are affecting citizens of Africa’s most populous nation. 

They challenge all elected leaders to work towards protecting citizens and “amplify their freedom to control ancestral resources such as land and water.”

Caritas Nigeria officials call on Nigerians to “remain peaceful and seek lawful means to redress” the controversial National Water Resources Bill.

“Citizen groups and civil societies should synergize and strategically collaborate to ensure that all that can be done is done to ensure that the obnoxious Bill does not see the light of the day,” they say in the October 11 statement.

Officials of the development and humanitarian arm of CBCN express readiness to partner with interest groups and State actors to ensure the wellbeing of the people of God in the West African nation.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.