Conference Calls For Water Supply Master Plans For States In Nigeria

Water Engineers in Nigeria have called for a water resource/water supply master plan for each of the 36 states of the country with a well defined action plan for implementation.
This was contained in a communique at the end of the 6th International Water Conference at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The conference was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE), a branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
The communique also said there is an urgent need to enhance political will for adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in the country.
According to the communique, “the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation should organised a national forum chaired by the president or vice president to discuss WASH.and modalities for meeting the SDG 6″
It called for full autonomy to be granted to water supply agencies across the country by state governments in order to attract investors into the sector
“This will require adequate legislation that will remove unnecessary interference in its operation and management.
“There is need to develop a water resource/ water supply master plan for each of the 36 States of the federation with a well defined action plan for implementation. This will be the responsibility of the sub nationals and may be supported by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation ”.
The communique signed by Dr Adeyinka Sobowale and Engr. Temitope Esther Aboyeji, a copy emailed to The Tide Environment Desk in Port Harcourt further stressed the need for states in the country to establish water regulatory agencies to adequately regulate the activities of water providers in their respective states.
“Furthermore, ground water regulatory frameworks for the entire country should be developed, ”it said.
The conference also urged the government to mandate and finance research centres , Universities, and Polytechnics and the private sector to begin development and manufacture of equipment and machines for the water sector locally to reduce the heavy dependence on importation
“There is  a need to adopt new and efficient technology control systems and innovations for revamping safely managed water supply systems.
“Professional Engineers are specially trained to design, construct, and manage all water infrastructures and systems, they should be given the pride of place to provide leadership in all water utilities across the country to promote effective service delivery,”it said.
The communique said the conference deliberated on various issues among which are: Water Sanitation and Hygiene( WASH) governance comprising the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems which includes policy, law and institutions that are in place to develop and manage water resources and the delivery of water services to different segments of the society.
Also deliberated upon are: challenges facing WASH in Nigeria including lack of or inadequate political will,weak policy and legal instruments, inappropriate institutional arrangements, lack of autonomy for water agencies, weak financial frame-work , inadequate and ageing infrastructures and lack of adequate manpower as well as fragmentation of approach to addressing water resources management in Nigeria.
Also considered are: lack of access to funding,. autonomy and accountability as key factors that must be ensured in the instruments guiding the sector, while  suggesting that unbundling water supply functions into different agencies should be pursued to promote efficiency and accountability.
According to the conference, “sustainable WASH services in terms of financial viability, reliable service and acceptable standards cannot be achieved without good and appropriate governance”
Speaking with The Tide in in Port Harcourt, General Manager of the Rivers State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr Napoleon Adah, said the outcome of the conference will repositioned the water sector for greater productivity if implemented.
He said the conference has carefully examined all problems militating against adequate water supply in the country and as well proffer solutions to them.