Inability to Pass Water Resources Bill, My Greatest Regret, Says Minister

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has revealed that his biggest regret during his tenure as minister was his inability to ensure the passage of the Water Resources Bill which is currently before the Senate.

Adamu, who spoke at a valedictory press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, also said he wished to have celebrated the enactment of the bill into law.

He said:  "Unfortunately, this is not to be, as you would recall that while the bill had a smooth sail in the House of Representatives, it unfortunately became unnecessarily controversial in the Senate. It is my strong belief and hope that the ninth Senate will be more dispassionate about the intent, letter and spirit of the bill and accelerate its passage."

"The benefits of the bill are for the development, management and efficient use of the nation’s water resources in line with global best practices."

Adamu further said the dismal situation of water supply sanitation sector had been addressed, especially the ability to attain and attract the highest level of political commitment and attention in the WASH sector

"Before coming on board, Nigeria did not attain the Millennium Development Goals, especially on access to water supply, particularly with the decline in rural areas.

"Commitment and attention demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari when he launched the National WASH Action Plan (NAP) for the revitalisation of the WASH Sector and declared a ‘State of Emergency’ on the sector on 8th November 2018," he added.

The outgoing minister stressed that he inherited 116 major on-going and abandoned projects like irrigation and drainage, 35 dams and 37 reservoirs and water supply on assumption of office but completed and commissioned 11.

He said: "Many of the projects were either abandoned or in comatose because they required review of scope or cost or lacked consistent funding to be completed."

"Most of the projects had attained 40 percent- 60 percent level of completion of less, while outstanding liabilities on them stood at N88.8 trillion, while 11 were completed and commissioned.”

He expressed optimism that the next minister would integrate discussions with China Bureau of the South to North Water Division Project and which is collaboration between the Bureau and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.