Caritas Nigeria Urges FG to retract national water bill

The Caritas Nigeria and the justice development and peace commission (JDPC) has urged the federal government to retract the controversial National Water Resources Bill.

The executive director/CEO of Caritas Nigeria, and National Director, JDPC, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, made the call in Abuja in a statement.

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He said that there is an urgent need for 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.

“The recent re-introduction of the National Water Resources Bill was poorly received by citizens and interest groups, given its apparent exclusion and non-consideration of states and citizens. The bill, which was first introduced in 2020, grants the Federal Government direct control over surface and ground waters, and further mandates individuals to obtain a license before they can access water – a natural resource received freely from God to meet man’s needs

“Caritas Nigeria, therefore, is rattled by the implications of this legislation, which has far-reaching effects on the citizenry and violates the Catholic Church’s principle of the Common Good.

“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.

“Moreover, Section 2(1) of the Bill, which reads, “All surface water and ground water, wherever it occurs, is a resource common to all people,” has been interpreted as assigning terrestrial water bodies and sources under the control and supervision of the federal government,” Obodoechina said.

According t him, similarly, Section 13 of the Bill, states thus: “In implementing the principles under subsection (2) of this section, the institutions established under this Act shall promote integrated water resources management and the coordinated management of land and water resources, surface water and groundwater resources, river basins and adjacent marine and coastal environment and upstream and downstream interests.”

“This, therefore, questions the principles of subsidiarity and inclusion; which states that a higher level of government or organization should not perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level, while, inclusion emphasizes equal access to opportunities and resources for everyone especially, for those who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.

“Considering the unarguably significant role that water plays in preventing health risks and ultimately promoting community health, Caritas Nigeria has, over the years, conscientiously provided improved, equal and equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for all citizens for public and household purposes,” he added.

Obodoechina also said that worthy of mention is the organization’s productive partnership with individuals, communities and development partners, who selflessly ensure that people, including disadvantaged demographics, have unfettered, sustainable access to water by providing alternative sources of water like hand-pump and solar-powered boreholes.\

He said, “We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to retract this legislation and prioritize public health by promoting every means possible for achieving quality water and sanitation

services, including private ownership and unrestricted use of water.”

He also recommended an urgent need for 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.

“The Federal Government through the National Assembly should concern itself with pressing

issues of poverty and hunger, unemployment and insecurity that ravage the country rather than promoting contentious and ill-motivated legislation.

“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.”