Association urges NASS to expedite passing water resources bill
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite the passage of the National Water Resources Bill to strengthen water regulation and prevent environmental degradation.
Dr Martin Eduvie, Immediate Past President of NAH, made the call at a press briefing during the association’s ongoing 37th Annual Conference in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Eduvie said the bill, which had remained before the National Assembly for more than seven years, was crucial to addressing groundwater overexploitation, contamination and inadequate enforcement of water protection standards.
He said although federal and state governments had introduced policies and regulations, the absence of comprehensive legislative backing continued to undermine effective water resources management.
“Once the bill is passed, issues of pollution of aquifers without penalties will be addressed.
“There are also codes that need to be followed when designing boreholes to prevent contamination and ensure effective water management,” he said.
Eduvie stressed that appropriate legislation would also strengthen the country’s response to climate change and promote sustainable groundwater development.
Earlier, NAH President, Mrs Fashoyin Haman, warned that groundwater pollution could have far-reaching consequences because interconnected aquifers allowed contaminants to spread across considerable distances.
She said groundwater was more difficult to rehabilitate once contaminated than surface water, making preventive measures essential.
Haman urged professionals to intensify public sensitisation on responsible water use, warning against indiscriminate extraction and pollution.
She also called for strict adherence to safety guidelines, particularly in agricultural practices, to protect water sources from harmful chemicals and heavy metals.
“Prevention is better than cure. We must educate communities on how to utilise water resources without abusing, over-extracting or polluting them for future generations,” she said.
She emphasised that protecting water resources required collective responsibility to safeguard public health, agriculture and sustainable development.
NAN
