TRASH THAT NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BILL 2020
Guardian Newspaper Editorial
By Editorial Board

A recent reintroduction of the vexatious National Water Resources Bill, which was rejected in 2018 by the National Assembly (NASS) is curious at this time.

President Muhammadu Buhari, whose office returned the Bill, must have some inexplicable motive for pushing it at all cost. The surreptitious plot to ram it through the federal legislature speaks volume for some hidden agenda.

That Bill is suspicious. A Bill that is out to rob many people, in broad day light, of their means of livelihood cannot but attract resentment and condemnation.

It is inconceivable that indigenous peoples, especially, in the South and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria would accept to be alienated from their God-given water resources. The National Assembly would do well to once again, trash the Bill to save the country from avoidable conflagration. The representatives of the people had better let the sleeping dog lie to avoid another round of crisis in the already volatile polity.

The repugnant and detestable land-grabbing Bill, which obviously is suspected to grant Fulani herdsmen and Miyeti Allah cattle breeders unfettered access to land and water resources in Southern Nigeria, can only trigger national upheaval.

Coming at a time when Nigerians are clamouring for proper federalism that entails devolution of powers to the states and local authorities, the introduction of a Water Resources Bill by President Buhari, to further alienate the people is unfortunate. The president should withdraw the bill in public interest.

When the Bill was first introduced in the 8th Senate, it generated controversy across the country, because of its desire to have the Federal Government take control of lands and water resources in the country. The perception by the public that the Bill was a decoy to advance the interest of the cattle herding Fulani population was palpable.

Though the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had reportedly raised concerns over the piece of legislation, by querying, “is this not the same Bill that generated controversy in the media,” he still allowed it to pass. And the question is why? Why did he not shut it down knowing the gravity of the implications of the Bill if passed into law?

The Bill, entitled “National Water Resources Bill, 2020,” was arbitrarily reintroduced in the Green Chamber, in breach of its rules, legislative convention and provisions of the 1999 constitution before the House adjourned for a two-month recess on Thursday, July 23, 2020.

It was therefore shocking that on Thursday, July 23, 2020, the House had, in referring to Order 12, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, 9th Edition, passed the National Water Resources Bill, 2020 and committed it to a “Committee of the Whole”, for third reading and final passage. The presentation of the Bill was done by the House Chairman on Rules and Business, Fulata.

Analysts say the referral of the Bill to the Committee of the Whole breached Order 12, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House. Though the Order states that such a bill from a preceding Assembly be gazetted and clean copies circulated, reports say none of that was done.

The Bill seeks to bring all water resources (surface and underground) and the banks of the water sources under the control of the Federal Government through its agencies to be established by the Bill.

Section 13 of the Bill, states, “in implementing the principles under subsection (2) of this section, the institutions established under this Act shall promote integrated water resources management and the coordinated management of land and water resources, surface water and ground water resources, river basins and adjacent marine and coastal environment and upstream and downstream interests.”

Section 2(1) of the Bill, says: “All surface water and ground water wherever it occurs, is a resource common to all people.’’ The Bill is primed for passage by the House on their resumption from recess next month, which is September.

Reacting to the secret plot to pass the bill, the Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), called on Nigerians to be ready for a protracted resistance to the move by the lawmakers.

The authorities in Abuja should not ignore the warning statement by the Southern and Middle Belt Forum on this hot potato. In their statement: “The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum calls on all the communities opposed to the bill, meant to grab land around waterways for cattle herders, to use the break time to organize community special sittings for their representatives to explain the meaning of this latest move and their roles in it.” The Bill, if passed into law, will clip the wings of state and local government authorities as well as individuals from making use of the water at their backyard without permit from Abuja. This development will engender serious contentions across Nigeria. The result would be water wars, which would be more devastating than the contentions over grazing land and even oilfields.

SOURCE:
https://guardian.ng/opinion/trash-that-national-water-resources-bill-2020/#:~:text=A%20recent%20reintroduction%20of%20the,is%20curious%20at%20this%20time.&text=The%20National%20Assembly%20would%20do,the%20country%20from%20avoidable%20conflagration.

Ok

These Fulani are really trying hard to Ruga everywhere but I know my people are not that stupid to give land to Fulani under this evil bill

Any southern lawmaker that sits at this bill hearing should be stoned to death

A sitting president that pampers, protect and reintegrate terrorist should make you guys to know the kind of person he is.

He pays herdsmen so they won't kill innocent citizens instead of arresting and condeming them to prison...he pampers terrorist (boko haram and its ilks) and reintegrate them into the society under the guise of "repentance", he tagged fulani herdsman and bandits as hungry "innocent citizens" even thou a blind man knows them as killers.

Avoid anyone who can look you in the eyes and confidently say Nigeria got better under Buhari.

it should be trashed ASAP

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gji3ec1:
it should be trashed ASAP

Middle Belt, Odududuwa and Lower Niger Bloc (SE & SS) should immediately leave this Union which is fake anyway because the 1999 Constitution is a forgery and null and void.

If politicians from our own area support this Bill.... let them see.

It CANNOT stand at any international Court since the Constitution that binds us ethnic nationalities is a forgery so invalid.

The bill should be thrown into bin.

No to federal nonsense.
Enough of federal government failure.
There is nothing handled by federal government and handled well.

This bill...

I don't really understand it..

Someone should kowatiate...

Buhari Is restructuring Nigeria Islamically !

One Excellent comment from the newspaper article site reads:

"[b]It is a fact acknowledged by most Nigerians that Muhammadu Buhari is the President of Fulani and Miyeti Allah Nation. He has demonstrated his singular focus to provide and protect the agenda of his tribal base. He is doing his best to grant these Northern criminals direct access to resources of Southern Nigeria – this time through a dubious legislation, the National Water resources Bill. What has the North offered the South lately beside half-baked managers who are least qualified to manage a shoe shop in Balogun Street but are ruining NNPC and our refineries to the ground, and looting it?

Muhammadu Buhari has done more to awaken Yoruba and Igbo Nations to the fact that there is very little in Nigeria for them, and understand clearly that the North cannot do without them, without their resources and their goodwill. Considering the myriads of issues facing Nigeria, including Boko Haram onslaught, insecurity across the nation, massive unemployment of youths and corruption right inside Aso Rock and inside Buhari’s government, it is the National Water resources Bill that is uppermost on Muhammadu Buhari’s mind!

It will mark the beginning of the end for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila if this dubious Buhari Water Bill becomes law. This recycled bill that failed a few years back is being pushed vigorously by the number one enemy of one Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. Clearly, it is time to call a round table to determine the terms of succession and division of Nigeria. Muhammadu Buhari is an enemy of Southern Nigeria. He is ready and happy to take from them and to deny them to satisfy his Fulani and Miyeti Allah Nation."[/b]

National Water Bill = RUGA in disguise.
This only shows how devilish this regime is. And some people think this regime has no FULANIZATION agenda? What concerns buhari's fulani regime with states water resources if not to advance their devilish plan of creation of fulani settlements around water bodies in Nigeria)?
At a time when states especially those in Middle Belt and in the South are trying to boost agriculture that has been on the decline no thanks to fulani terrorist activities, the regime is plotting to covet state resources for their satanic agenda.

Nigerians should all joint hands and protect their land, heritage, states and regions from fulani terrorist marauders from futajalon who are actively trying to create RUGA through the backdoor.
Remember: WATER RESOURCES BILL = RUGA = FULANI SETTLEMENTS.


DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

November1857:
Buhari Is restructuring Nigeria Islamically !

Buhari's sole purpose of becoming president is to advance FULANI AGENDA over Nigeria. Nothing more nothing less.
Bloody useless regime.

DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

This is front page worthy...... Mods Lalasticlala, come and do your work abeg

A recent reintroduction of the vexatious National Water Resources Bill, which was rejected in 2018 by the National Assembly (NASS) is curious at this time.

President Muhammadu Buhari, whose office returned the Bill, must have some inexplicable motive for pushing it at all cost. The surreptitious plot to ram it through the federal legislature speaks volume for some hidden agenda.

I now fully agreed that the 8th NASS is one of the best these nation had.The present crop of Lawan & Gbaja-led NASS rubberstamp legislavery are just out to enhance the preplanned executive impunity, lawlessness and oppression.

saaron:
Buhari's sole purpose of becoming president is to advance FULANI AGENDA over Nigeria. Nothing more nothing less.Bloody useless regime.

DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

God bless you bro.

Abouwaza:
These Fulani are really trying hard to Ruga everywhere but I know my people are not that stupid to give land to Fulani under this evil bill

Any southern lawmaker that sits at this bill hearing should be stoned to death

Exactly! Any law maker from Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria that assent to this devilish and satanic bill should be marked. Nigerians must not fold their hands and allow a group of rascals sell their lands and heritage to terrorist murderers from futajalon.

WATER RESOURCES BILL= RUGA = FULANI SETTLEMENTS.

DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

Paperwhite:
I now fully agreed that the 8th NASS is one of the best these nation had.The present crop of rubberstamp is out to enhance executive lawlessness

Saraki led Senate is miles ahead of the Rubber Stamp Senate Nigeria has today.
An appendage of a regime that approves every loan request and every evil bills cannot be said to be an independent arm of govt.

DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

saaron:
Saraki led Senate is miles ahead of the Rubber Stamp Senate Nigeria has today.An appendage of a regime that approves every loan request and every evil bills cannot be said to be an independent arm of govt.

DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM FULANI TERRORISM!! SUPPORT IT.

"...Lawan persistently spoke as if he was one of the aides of Buhari.He did not sound one bit like he is heading another arm of government.Since his assumption of office, Lawan has been thinking and acting as if he is part of the Executive.

Fanatical Lawan no longer understands the concept of check and balance in a democracy. He is unconscious that we are running a constitutional government and that check and balance must apply..

The principle of check and balance has been thrown into the garbage can.No wonder Lawan said he would do anything Buhari requests of him in the Senate...."
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/12/21/lawan-is-just-a-rubber-waiting-to-stamp-anything/

Our votes are working ... For or against us is not the issue ...


It is working hahaha

Nairaland Donald trump has spoken

3 year more haha by 2023 when dem promise unah 1 dollar = 1 naira haha unah go remember as next level been be hahahhaha

Greatest Youth dem who dey press who for inside BBN house haha as nah wetin concern unah be that

Ok

9ja matters no be here

Government need take caution from adding more everyday, to the suffering of the common man with introduction of so many taxes, levies, bills, etc.

Interesting..

Hmm

Well said... They gat no choice than to trash it

Please since Buhari is looking for what to sign can someone show him that electoral reform law?

AN ABOKI WANT TO COME TO MIDDLE BELT AND SOUTHERN NIGERIA and claim land using FEDERAL POWERS.

What does the north think the rest part of the country are?

DO THEY THINK WE ARE FOOLS?

Governor Ortom of Benue state have threatened proponet of that bills with a legal suit which he intend to institute if they keep bringing up that abominable bills.

WOLE SOYINKA said NIGERIA IS DOOMED with that WATER RESOURCES BILL.

How can a northerner want to claim the indigenous people land and water just because they do not have up north.