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Nigeria to regulate effective use of water resources: minister

Xinhua, March 30, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian government is set to regulate effective use of water resources in the country, Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu said Thursday.

Speaking at a workshop on "National Dialogue on Water Use and Licence Regulations 2016" in Abuja, the nation's capital city, Adamu said the government, through the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) will also commence the regulation and licensing of borehole drilling and water usage in the country.

NIWRMC was established to regulate the right to the nation's water resources.

Water was one of the national resources that needed proper management, through regulation for economic and sustainable development, the minister told his audience.

"The approval of water use and licence regulations 2016 and the National Water Resources Policy and Strategy 2016 set the framework for coordination of water governance within an appropriate coherent policy setting," he added.

"Taking into account the overall social and economic goals of the resources in the country and the importance of stakeholders in the implementation of water use and licence regulations, a holistic and comprehensive national strategic plan for the management of the resources is required," he said.

The minister emphasized the need to provide a common platform for strategic feedback on the implementation of the regulations from various stakeholders across the country.

Earlier, the Executive Director NIWRMC, Reuben Habu said the dialogue on water use and regulations 2016 was aimed at discussing the implication of the "New Water Use and Licensing Regulations on water services."

This, according to him is in line with International Integrated Water Resources Management principles.

Water Use and Licence Regulations was launched in 2016 by the Nigerian government as an instrument for the regulation of the development and management of water resources in Nigeria.

NIWRMC is saddled with the responsibility of promoting the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources to maximize the effects on the economic and social welfare of the country. Endit