₦airaland Forum

Ibiyaye1:
The federal government on Tuesday said there was no hidden agenda pertaining to the water resources bill being considered in the National Assembly.

Some groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, have called for the bill to be rejected. Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has also been quoted as saying the country will be doomed if the bill makes it into the law books.

But in a joint press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed and the Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said 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.”

The Ministers said the bill was designed to provide “professional and efficient management of all surface and groundwater” for the use of Nigerians.

“We also want to state that the Bill is for the good of the nation, and has no
hidden agenda whatsoever,” the Ministers added in a statement read during the briefing.

Not New
The Ministers on Tuesday said the water resources bill was not a novel idea.

“Gentlemen, there is nothing new about the National Water Resources Bill,” they said. “This is because it is an amalgamation of Water Resources Laws that have been in existence for a long time.”

The laws being amalgamated, according to the Ministers, include 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.

So why are these laws being collapsed into one?

“The answer is that they are being re-enacted with necessary modifications to bring them in line with current global trends as well as best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM),” the Ministers said.

“The overall objective of this amalgamation is the efficient management of the Water Resources Sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the well-being of its citizens,” including attracting private sector investment.

What are the issues?
The Ministers listed seven points made by critics and provided a response to each of them.

Criticism: The Federal Government is poised to take over the nation’s water resources by licensing and commercializing the use of water.

FG Response: “This is not the intention, because the current Water
Resources Act, 2004 (made pursuant to the Constitution) already makes
provision for this. This Bill is only trying to provide a framework
for implementing that provision. The Regulatory provisions of the Bill
require that commercial borehole drillers obtain a Licence. The Code
of Practice for Water Well Drillers issued by the Standards
Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the NWRI in 2010 already requires
this. The Code provides Technical requirements that a driller must
possess to undertake drilling as well as information on each such
borehole to be provided to the national database. That Code however
requires the License to be issued by the NWRI in Kaduna. This Bill
provides for such Licenses to now be issued by the States, under
the delegation of the National regulator, the Water Resources Regulatory
Commission.

“Please note that borehole regulation is an international standard for
the abstraction of large volumes of water. Most countries in Africa, and
almost every developed country, regulates commercial abstraction. It is
also important to note that there is no requirement for licensing
domestic abstraction. Regulating abstraction of large volumes of water
is necessary because groundwater abstraction is an activity that has
an environmental and ecological impact.”

Criticism: Nigerians will be prevented from access to potable water. Section 75 of the bill states that ”subject to the provisions of this Bill, no borehole driller, whether corporate or individual, shall commence borehole drilling business in Nigeria unless such driller has been issued a Water Well Driller’s licence by the Commission.”

FG Response: “Why is a technically-competent driller afraid of
obtaining a Licence? It is a Licence to practice, just as a medical
Licence or any other Licence to be obtained by people professing to
have the technical competence to do something. Most collapsed
boreholes are drilled by charlatans. It is therefore incumbent on the government to prevent this.

“On the provision of potable water, this is the responsibility of State
governments. The National Policy for water resources prioritizes
abstraction for water treatment in the allocation of water use. This
means that abstraction quantities required by state water Boards are
given priority in water allocation and the financing of infrastructure
by the Federal government for water development. Boreholes are the
same. Sections 76-79 of the Bill clearly provides that the States will
undertake this regulation under a national framework provided by the
regulator to ensure homogenous policy implementation.”

Criticism: The Bill is illegal. The Supreme Court has held that the power of physical planning in any state of the Federation is exclusively vested in the state government and that the National Assembly lacks the power to legislate on the physical planning outside the FCT.

FG Response: Well, this is not a Physical Planning Bill. This bill
only relates to the management of water resources that crosses state
boundaries. The Constitution already grants the Federal Legislature
this responsibility (item 64, Exclusive Legislative List, CFRN 1999).
The Water Resources Act, 2004 lists the water bodies to which the Act
applies. This is maintained in the Bill. The interaction of the
The federal government with the State is only as it concerns the
management of the inter-state water that passes through the State. The
Bill does not apply to water that is wholly within the boundaries of a
State. The Bill also does not apply to Land. It clearly states that
Land required by any of the institutions established in the Bill will
be obtained in accordance with the Land Use Act (i.e with Governor’s
consent).”

Criticism: Based on the Supreme Court ruling, the provision of the Bill seeking to confer power on the Federal Government to give approval or licence for digging boreholes in any pact of the country is illegal and unconstitutional.

FG Response: “Well, to the best of our knowledge, there is no court
ruling on this. If there is, we are not aware that a case on borehole
licensing has been decided by the Supreme Court.”

Criticism: The Bill, when passed into law, will clip the
wings of state and local government authorities, as well as
individuals, from making use of the water in their backyards without
permission from Abuja

FG Response: “Communities on River Banks are guaranteed undisturbed
use of water as stated in Section 3 of the Bill. Also, all occupiers
of Land are guaranteed the right of abstraction for domestic and
sustenance, whether by borehole or rivers. Section 3 reiterates the
right of persons to continue to access water without charge for
subsistence and preserves existing customary rights to water. (see
Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Bill). Section 2 of the Water Resources
Act, 2004 is reproduced. This section protects the right of persons to
use water for domestic purposes without charge and recognises the
right of a holder of customary or statutory right of occupancy to
access water for personal and household use but not for commercial
purposes.”

Criticism: The Bill is aimed at taking the resources of a certain part of the country for the use of herders. In other words, the Federal Government is seeking to implement RUGA by subterfuge.

FG Response: This is not the intent of the Bill and it is not even possible, as the Bill reiterates the fact that Land can only be acquired by any of the institutions established in accordance with the Land Use Act. Almost all the Institutions have State Representatives. The Regulatory Commission Board comprises representatives of the six-geo political regions. The State level basins management includes representatives of each state in the Basin.

Criticism: The Bill is capable of triggering ‘water wars’.

FG Response: “The misrepresentation of the contents and intent of the
Bill is a real cause for concern. The framework for managing and
regulating inter-state waters that is represented in the Water
Resources Policy, 2016 and this Bill are similar (in some cases
verbatim) with most international conventions and studies. It is the
same as in South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and most
developed Federal constitutions.

“‘Water Wars’ are more likely to happen between countries, while
internal conflicts on water occur typically between states in a
country. So it is not correct to say the Bill is capable of triggering
‘water wars’. Plus, the Bill contains provisions that will ensure that
internal conflict on water is averted.

“A possible source of internal conflict on the water is if an upstream
State decides to dam inter-state water, thereby preventing it from
following its natural course, thus affecting downstream users. On the
contrary, Bill is the only panacea to internal conflict on water.
For example, River Niger passes several states before emptying into the
Gulf of Guinea through the Delta. If any of the state’s dams it, that
can trigger water conflict. The Bill has taken this into
consideration. It provides, in Section 2 (3) for the Federal
Government’s right to the use and management control of all surface
water and groundwater affecting more than one state pursuant to the
provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999, as amended. Contrary to what is being perpetuated, water
resources in a state that do not go beyond the particular state are
not regulated by this Bill.”

Gist via:- https://rewardgist.com.ng/2020/09/23/no-hidden-agenda-with-water-resources-bill-fg/

Esseite:
How is a Governor a godfather to another Governor?..

Rugaria:
That man dey fear exam ehn.

naija4life247:
Yes we are.

Now look at this. Before now, Southerners do not wish to work in government ministries and parastatals because the pay has always been poor. Only Northerners who are almost half educated loved to work in government ministries and parastatals and earn peanuts because Northerners were not so money conscious like us Southerners.

This is the same reason why you will notice that most Judges in all the states of the federaion are Women or Northeners. It is because a brilliant Southern male lawyer is not ready to work in government ministries and parastatals and earn peanut. A Southern male lawyer knows that what government pays in five years, he can make it on a single case. But a Southerne female lawyer is comfortable with the little that government is paying, as her husband is most times the main financier of the family.

This is one of the reasons why there are less Southerners in government ministries and parastatals .

Another reason is that Southerners work gainst each other and even witch haunt their brethren when they find their selves in postition unlike Northerners that once you speak Hausa, you are favoured. So, should we blame the North for this?

However, some things have changed all over the years, as unemployment inceases day by day, anyone is ready to do any job includingworking in government ministries and parastatals and earning peanuts with the wrong believe that he will be in a position to steal government money.

Yobabad:
We the Yorubas are happy and proud of Buhari govt. Buhari will make Nigeria to look like China. All Yorubas both living and dead are supporters of Buhari.

Anago55:
. I just wish I could meet you in real life

I will take the jail term in good fate

helinues:
Bros, how far now

Tranquill:
Assuming it is true, do you have to incorporate them into your Biafra without their consent? Nothing says that the boundaries of countries are carved based on ethnic spread. You have ethnic Germans, and French in countries like Switzerland, Leitchestain, Belgium etc, you have the Ndebeles in different countries in Southern Africa, even in Nigeria, you have the Chamba and some other ethnic groups also in Cameroon. There are so many instances across the globe. Do your Biafra with your five Igbo states and if others that you think are Igbos become interested, they will apply to join.

myBraine:
Imagine?

Prior to me watching the YouTube video above, I initially thought that the narval officer was guilty of the allegation issued against him but after perusing the video content, it came to my realization that the task officers were suffering from intellectual superiority.

Knowing fully well that the officer was a loner as at the time of the incident, they preyed on him by taking advantage of that and exploited him in groups.

He is a military man for crying out loud. Maneuvering his way through BRT lane shouldn't be the topic of discussion. Lagos roads are usually busy and this man has to reach his destination on time (mostly for the sake of bloody civilians).

For those of us that has been privileged to travel by air before, we violently and ridiculously trespassed international airspace just to reach our desired countries on time. Now, imagine if those countries we trespassed on began firing us missiles from their military airbase, how many of us will still be alive today?

I am standing with this Naval officer, not because I am a military or a paramilitary man but solely because I am a man with an eccentric mindset and a functioning brain.

post=93074478:
You will still see some children of hate, perdition and frustration that will not be happy with this news.

They are coming soon.

Modify : The swines are even already here!
They never disappoint.
Good news will always be far from you bastards.
Enemies of the state, Nonentities

Hatred for your country will not kill you guys one day soon.
Hatred kills faster than HIV.
We are sure the wall clock in your houses is permanently at 8' O Clock twenty-four hours of the day!
Pathetic tins!


Quote us and let the world know the enemies among us if this comment gets to you.
Animals!!!


FEMI A, HIT dem till dem quench!!
Dem go dey alright las las
DEM MANNA say so



God bless you for these true words.
May all enemies of Nigeria die one after the other.
Those who never want any good news concerning our darling country.
It is happening to them already.
Dem swines


Don't mind them, they are nothing but hypocrites.
The bad news they pray for will knock at their doors pretty soon.


Words of a great man.
God bless you and yours Mr Simple.
Cheers.




One don quote us o
Dem know dem name!

DEROX:
buratai will bring the phythons and nothing will happen because he has the fedeal backing and legal order.

Ehinmen3:
BY: Pa. Ehinmen
Life is worthless when we are being governed by an insensitive government who keep deceiving the people with white elephant projects.
Edo people cannot continue under a failed government, and I for one cannot sit and watch my vote go to waste. I will defend my vote from the tax collectors with my sweat and blood.
In 2016, ize iyamu clearly won the Edo election but it was hitherto rigged in favour of this current audio government but however we are wiser now and will not leave the polling unit until our vote is counted.
I will further follow the INEC officials to the collation center to ensure that the right and correct results are presented.
I want to send this strong message to PDP in Edo and Esan land in specific that their attempts to short change ize Iyamu will fail. Their attempts to install an unpopular governor will fail.
This is not 2016, this is 2020.
Ize Iyamu will surely win in landslide.
APC Progress!
Pa. Ehinmen is a freelance writer, and a volunteer member of pastor Osagie ize-iyamu youth movement from Edo State.

Anazp:
Don't know what's wrong with these Igbo people. Small positions abroad they'll start making noise

IamWonderful:
I never had any relationship with any diseases or sickness, so their existence is vague to me, it might be your portion because you are sure of it existence.

IamWonderful:
ok

Abasman008:
shut up biased fools ... Someone made a post about ODUDUWA and I made mine about the NIGER DELTA, guess what mine was removed his stood why .. I guess I understand why people hate the yoruba's so much... Biased bastards

simpleseyi:
Igbo Amaka.

Great Igbos developing everywhere but cannot develop their land. What a people!

Karlovich:
More tears for skull mining vultures

OgunrinolA20:
And we haven't seen Makinde's work since he had become the Guvnor...

My Oyo people are you also with me on this...

Salewa97:
The Chief Executive Officer of Hotels.ng, Mark Essien has barred his mind on the agitation for Biafran nation. Citing that Biafra will be a landlocked country if eventually becomes a nation.

This is coming on the heels of agitations by different group in South-east Nigeria. Groups like; IPOB, MASSOB, BIM, etc, has been calling for a separation from Nigeria. A movement which will birth the new nation called Biafra. However, Essien pointed out that if Biafran nation if granted freedom, will be landlocked with no access to sea or oil. The Akwa Ibom born entrepreneur in a social media post further added that region like South-South will unlikely join Biafra as a nation.

He said:
“Those calling for Biafra don’t understand that it will be a landlocked country without access to the sea (or oil). It is highly unlikely that any of the other tribes will join in. All the major markets will collapse without trade from the rest of Nigeria. No resources, no trade. “If you’re secretly hoping Nigeria splits, dead that dream. Because the south would split into two. And then South-West will split into two again, then South-South-East will split into 4 pieces. Those tiny nations will be unstable, poor, and ruled by warlords. It’s better as it is. “And those hoping for Biafra as a single, unified South-East and South-South together: that will never happen. It will be the worst of all guerrilla wars. The creeks can hide an insurgent army that can never be flushed out, and they will attack over and over again. “The Ijaws, Efik/Ibibio, Deltans will never agree to be part of Biafra, and should it happen by force, then it will be seen as an occupation and will be resisted. Considering that access to water and oil lies in the minority areas, it will be hard to occupy those areas for long.

Source: https://abacityblog.com/biafra-will-be-a-landlocked-country-without-access-to-sea-or-oil-mark-essien/

post=93918975:
Good development......

Let's hear from the horse's mouth....



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace Airlines, Allen Onyema, says it is untrue to say that President Muhammadu Buhari does not like the Igbos.

Onyema defended his viewpoint on Saturday on the grounds that his airline had hugely benefited from the current administration.

I’m a beneficiary of Buhari’s kindness to Igbos – Air Peace boss

“I thank God for our President, Muhammadu Buhari, it is very untrue that he does not like the Igbo.
Without me being a member of his party, or any party, I am a beneficiary of his support for indigenous businesses.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has given me destinations they have never given anybody, yet I am an Igbo man, from Anambra,” Onyema said on an interview with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS).

Furthermore, he stressed that people should not read negative meanings to the good works of the Buhari administration.

“I don’t know anybody, I don’t have any godfather, President Buhari through his minister, Hadi Sirika, has given me China, London, Portugal, the entire Europe, United States and India.
“He’s even given me Jedda, and I’m not a Muslim; the government has given me about twenty destinations to fly to.”

He added that;

“The President wants equal economic development everywhere.”


Addendum :
Wailers, Enemies of Nigeria, Children of hate, frustration and perdition over to you guys.....
You can quote this post,
Let sane Nigerians know you NOW!

360degreess:
Aren't you people tired of spreading this false propaganda?... You are even talking about xtain women will soon be forced to wear hijab. Go and read your Bible, women are told to cover their bodies. In fact, the Bible is more stricter by saying :any woman who refuses to cover her head, the hair should be shaved off.. 1 corintho11:5-6,1timothy 2:9,Deutronomy 22:5.

TheChameleon:
He's a Greek national with Yoruba origins. What's your point?

And who said God hasn't remembered me ?

After all, i don't sell vulture meat

https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/strchw.gif

Kennyswag:
always fooling yourself