Society tasks A’Ibom lawmakers to ratify water law

Isaac Job, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom state chapter of the Society for Water and Sanitation has emphasized the need for the state House of Assembly to ratify the water law and other regulatory policies as requirement to access external funds and other supports to improve water supply in the state.

The society also encouraged the state government to create a separate ministry of water resources in line with the federal government’s directive to coordinate water related activities and also ensure that the identified gaps are addressed set the state on the pedestal of attaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2025 and SDG 6 by 2030.

In a statement issued in Uyo and signed by the state Coordinator, Mr. Edidiong Samba and Secretary, Mr. Koko Udo respectively, the society observed the poor state of water facilities in some public institutions, especially in coastal areas of the state.

This, according to the group, is largely due to the unavailability of water at these institutions and the high cost of constructing boreholes in coastal communities.

“The human right to water entitles everyone, without discrimination to sufficient, safe, acceptable and affordable water for personal and domestic uses which includes, water for drinking, personal sanitation, washing of clothes, food preparation and household hygiene.

“As a coastal state, Akwa Ibom is faced with challenges of accessing safe and clean water, including poor sanitation and hygiene practices mostly among the rural dwellers.

Poor access to water facilities is a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of our citizens and therefore needs urgent and proactive intervention,” it added.

It however, commended the state government for providing counterpart funds for water interventions in some local government areas of the state, but worried at what it described as gross inadequate budgetary provision for water activity as reflected in 2018 and 2019 budgets of the state respectively.

He said there was no active water steering committee and integrated state level water action plan both in short and long term plans, but acknowledged the support of donor agencies and civil society organizations who were implementing specific water programmes and other projects geared towards achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) in some local government areas in the state.

It would be recalled that on November 8, 2018, President Mohammadu Buhari launched the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) action plan and declared a state of emergency in the sector with a strong statement to end open defecation in the country.

Also in 2016, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources launched a roadmap to achieve Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025.

The United Nations in 2010 recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.

NEWSAN is a coordinating network of over 300 civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and community based organizations in water, sanitation and hygiene spread over the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.