Expert seeks autonomy for state water agencies

The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers, Dr Adeyinka Sobowale, on Friday, said granting full autonomy to state water supply agencies across the country will attract investors to the sector and help to improve access to safe drinking water.

Sobowale also said there was the need to develop a water resources or water supply master plan for each of the 36 states of the federation with a well-defined action plan to address the challenge of access to safe drinking water.

The Chairman of NIWE disclosed this during a press briefing held at Bolude Oyebolu Engineering Centre, Abeokuta, to mark this year’s World Water Day.

World Water Day is held on March 22 of every year.

This year’s theme is “Water For Peace”

He said 87% of the country’s population, translating to 179 million Nigerians, do not have access to safe drinking water.

Sobowale explained that the statistics highlighting the water crisis facing Nigeria were encapsulated in the 2021 Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping, which covers 36 states of the federation and FCT.

He said, “This report shows that up to 87% (179 million) of Nigerians do not have access to safely managed drinking water service.

“This report also revealed that access to basic water supply services is available to 67% of the population while 68% use drinking water supplies contaminated by thermotolerant coliform at the point of collection.”

He explained further that to address this challenge of acute access to safely managed drinking water, saying, “government should give full autonomy to the state water supply agencies across the country to attract investors to the sector. This will require adequate legislation that will remove unnecessary interference in their operations

“There is also a need to develop a water resources or water supply master plan for each of the 36 states of the federation with a well-defined Action Plan for implementation.

“It has also become imperative for the states to establish water regulatory agencies to adequately regulate the activities of the service providers in their domain for quality assurance.

He said, “The theme for this year World Water Day is very apt in the face of the numerous challenges facing the development and management of water resources all over the world which more often than not result in avoidable conflicts creating a serious social, financial and environmental imbalance that affects everyone.

“I cannot conclude this press briefing without letting us know that water has acted as impetus to create peace or spark conflicts. Many unnecessary wars have been fought over water in many parts of the world.

“When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal or no access to water, tension can rise. This is the reason why the government at all levels must be ready to explore every available opportunity, innovation, and collaboration that can continually enhance water supply and access to safely managed drinking water”