Commission reiterates commitment to water resources devt

By Paul Efiong Abuja

The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), the water resources regulatory agency has expressed its readiness to harness the nation’s sources to tackle challenges of water across the country.
Mr Reuben Habu, the Executive Director of the commission, made the disclosure in Abuja at the weekend.
Habu said the commission, by its established mandate, had been authorised to ensure that the sources of water were regulated to meet people’s demand of the commodity across the country.
He said the commission would achieve the objective through identification of water developers and issuance of Water Use License/Permit to prospective water developers based on terms and conditions as contained in the Water Use Regulations 2016.
According to him, water demands have increased faster than population growth in Nigeria and water production and consumption growth rates in many regions are clearly unsustainable.
Habu explained further that NIWRMC as a regulator in the water sector in the country was recognised as part of solution to water scarcity in the country by its mandates.
The NIWRMC director posited that poor economic management and inadequate infrastructure to harness the nation’s sources of water had plunged some regions of the country into a situation of water scarcity ‘‘What the commission is doing is to ensure regulation of the use of water to curtail the uncoordinated extraction of water resources in the country.
‘‘The commission has an important role in boosting both the quality and supply of water to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
‘‘We need new solutions in managing water resources in Nigeria so as to meet emerging challenges to water security caused by population growth and climate change,’’ he said.
Habu said the commission through its regulatory tool would ensure allocation, supply and distribution of water resources for all uses to promote equitable, sustainable and sufficient best practice and conduct.
The executive director said the commission would also ensure that licences or authorised developers and water service providers, users and infrastructure used for water services meet the technical, social and commercial obligations.