By Tunde Akanbi,Ilorin
The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources, Alhaji Ahman Patigi has attributed laws governing the management of water resources, lack of political will to fix water problem and funding to common problems facing the sector in the country.Alhaji Patigi while fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, said the water resources is a sector without governing laws.The lawmaker who represents Edu, Moro and Patigi Federal Constituency, said the country initially lacked Water Chattered law which would midwife the government to stabilize the sector.He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari had sent the bill on the Water Chartered which was championed by the United Nations and Partners with Ministry of Water Resources to the National Assembly, adding that giving assent to the bill would solve water crisis in Nigeria.According to him, it is the responsibility of the federal government to build dams, while the state government reticulate the water to all local governments for the people to have access to portable drinking water.Alhaji Patigi assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would ensure that reticulation is provided to all the seven hundred and seventy four local governments within three kilometers.The lawmaker said water is a crucial component that is key to the success of Millennium Development Goals of the past administration and Sustainable Development Goals of the present administration in eradicating infant mortality.Alhaji Patigi said provision of adequate water supply would address food security headlong, saying that farmers would have access to water for irrigation to farm all year round.
