On Tuesday, the Federal Government defended the National Water Resources Bill 2020, saying it was being opposed by people who had access to the media and that it would go ahead and ensure the passage of bill because it would be for the good of the country.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said critics of the bill were ill-informed because they had not read it, saying these at a press conference he addressed with the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja.

Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians and groups including Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere had kicked against the reintroduction of the bill, saying it was a plot by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to seize people's water resources for Fulani herdsmen.

But on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed said those condemning the bill had either not read it and did not understand its provisions or they were doing so out of mischief.

Also, Adamu said the bill was never rejected by the eighth Senate as being said in some quarters.

Mohammed while answering questions from the journalists said, "You asked if the government will go ahead with the bill despite the criticism by people and we have just told you that the bill is for the good of the nation"

He continued "Who are the people that you said are against the bill? They are people who have access to the media. There is nothing that concerns the people of my village or people of your village with this bill" adding that the bill was for the good of the nation, adding that it had no hidden agenda whatsoever.

The minister said, "We cannot rule out deliberate mischief by some of those who have been portraying the bill as a new source of conflict"

"We are, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the bill to avoid being misled by those who have chosen to politicise it."

He added "When passed into law, the National Water Resources Bill 2020 will provide for the enhancement of the Nigeria's water sector in line with global best practices"

The minister said there was nothing new about the bill which he described as an amalgamation of water resources laws that had been in existence for a long time.

Faulting the claims by critics, he listed the existing laws that made up the bill as the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; the River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004; the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A, LFN 2004; and the National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004.

"The bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface and ground water for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreation).

"The bill will ensure that the nation's water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons.

The information minister said "Among other benefits, the bill provides for the creation of an enabling environment for public and private sector investment; provides for capacity building processes to foster good governance; establishes water use and licensing framework to ensure sustainable financing for water sector development from tariffs."

"The first thing to say is that many of those criticising the bill have not even bothered to read its provisions, thus depending on second-hand information to reach their conclusions. Those who have read it have perhaps done so perfunctorily." He said

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1601277695/water-resources-bill-says-critics-ill-informed

Ruga part 2...... it is all because of islamic domination. Islam says when get to a place seize power and commerce and reduce the people to slaves. The system works well in Middle East and northern Nigeria. It is being imposed on the southern Nigeria and Middle Belt. The system is boomeranging in the north, the reason for insurgent groups and organized criminal groups like boko haram and bandits.

Teach us

Maybe it's my job to inform them

ANOTHER RUGA IN DISGUISE !

the fg has dubious intention so we refuse to buy into their useless bill.

[s]

nairapark:
On Tuesday, the Federal Government defended the National Water Resources Bill 2020, saying it was being opposed by people who had access to the media and that it would go ahead and ensure the passage of bill because it would be for the good of the country.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said critics of the bill were ill-informed because they had not read it, saying these at a press conference he addressed with the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, in Abuja.

Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians and groups including Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere had kicked against the reintroduction of the bill, saying it was a plot by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to seize people's water resources for Fulani herdsmen.

But on Tuesday, Lai Mohammed said those condemning the bill had either not read it and did not understand its provisions or they were doing so out of mischief.

Also, Adamu said the bill was never rejected by the eighth Senate as being said in some quarters.

Mohammed while answering questions from the journalists said, "You asked if the government will go ahead with the bill despite the criticism by people and we have just told you that the bill is for the good of the nation"

He continued "Who are the people that you said are against the bill? They are people who have access to the media. There is nothing that concerns the people of my village or people of your village with this bill" adding that the bill was for the good of the nation, adding that it had no hidden agenda whatsoever.

The minister said, "We cannot rule out deliberate mischief by some of those who have been portraying the bill as a new source of conflict"

"We are, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the bill to avoid being misled by those who have chosen to politicise it."

He added "When passed into law, the National Water Resources Bill 2020 will provide for the enhancement of the Nigeria's water sector in line with global best practices"

The minister said there was nothing new about the bill which he described as an amalgamation of water resources laws that had been in existence for a long time.

Faulting the claims by critics, he listed the existing laws that made up the bill as the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; the River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004; the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A, LFN 2004; and the National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004.

"The bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface and ground water for the use of the people (i.e. for domestic and non-domestic use, irrigation, agricultural purposes, generation of hydro-electric energy, navigation, fisheries and recreation).

"The bill will ensure that the nation's water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons.

The information minister said "Among other benefits, the bill provides for the creation of an enabling environment for public and private sector investment; provides for capacity building processes to foster good governance; establishes water use and licensing framework to ensure sustainable financing for water sector development from tariffs."

"The first thing to say is that many of those criticising the bill have not even bothered to read its provisions, thus depending on second-hand information to reach their conclusions. Those who have read it have perhaps done so perfunctorily." He said

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1601277695/water-resources-bill-says-critics-ill-informed

[/s]

The Bill is back at the National Assembly and has passed the first reading