Opinion
Need For Water Policy In Rivers State
The Federal Government of Nigeria recognizes water and sanitation as the most important need man. Various Government initiatives geared’ wards meeting this basic and important need h, been designed in the past, in spite of these initiatives it is estimated that majority of the people urban and rural areas still lack access to potable water supply and sanitation.
The situation is such that average delivery in ban areas is only 32 litres per capita per day, about litres per capita per day for rural areas. The picture as it exists now poses a great challenge to 1 government at all levels.
The United Nation declared the period 1981-1990 as the water and sanitation decade. The key element of the water decade is full supply of water and sanitation coverage for all citizens of the member countries of the U.N. The African convention on the Conservation of nature and natural resources enjoins member States to develop policies for conservation, utilization and development of underground and surface water.
As a signatory to both the UN Declaration a’ the African Convention the government of Nigeria has initiated various interventions in the water 51.: ply and sanitation sector, at the time of the review of the water decade by the African working group of the collaborative council on water and sanitation, Nigeria was identified as one of the few countries with a draft water and sanitation policy in 1992, Nigeria developed the Rural Water and Sanitation sector strategy and action plan.
It is against this backdrop that Rivers State Government should recognise water and sanitation as essential for maintaining a healthy life and environment, both are fundamentals for the socio-economic development of the state. This conviction should guide the design of intervention that will aim at improving water and sanitation coverage in the state.
Delivery of water and sanitation service in the state should be through the state agencies such as the State Water Board and the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSA).
The State Water Board should be responsible for management, operation and maintenance of urban and small towns schemes, the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency on the other hand should provide safe drinking water to rural areas, as a strategy to deal with water related diseases in the state.
For effective implementation of the policy, there is need for institutional reforms at the State and local government levels, the State Government should provide leadership as well as the political will needed to push the change processes envisaged.
The Ministry of Water resources should be responsible for policy formulation and review, planning, facilitation, co-ordination and collaboration with other ministries and agencies, data collection and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, own budgeting and implementation, ensure that regulatory measures are put in place to guide the sector and ensure effective water resources management as well as liaise with relevant agencies for the conservation, preservation and protection of water resources within the confines of the state as the need arises.
Rivers Sate Water Board should be responsible for urban water supply and maintenance of facilities, quality assurance and control of urban water supply system, setting of urban tariffs as well as data collection and analysis.
Rivers State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSA) should be responsible for rural water supply and Sanitation also provide technical support to the water and Environmental Sanitation (WES), Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Department responsible for hygiene in the rural , communities and as well as serve as a secretariat of the state steering committee on water and sanitation.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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