Nigeria Commemorates World Water Day
The
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FOEN
has called on governments at all levels in Nigeria, to honour
all water agreements that have the mandate of the people.
The focal person, Water Campaigns of ERA, Mr. Philip Jakpor,
describing access to water as a right, called for it to be
enshrined in the constitution as recommended by the United
Nations.
Set Back
Speaking at a Media dialogue to mark World Water Day in Lagos,
Mr. Jakpor, identified corruption as the biggest reason for lack
of access to portable water in Nigeria.
Way Forward
He called on the government to probe all water scams that have
made the Nigerian people totally dependent on water vendors.
He urged government to compel extractive companies that pollute
the country’s rivers and streams to clean them up in line with
international best practices as well as provide the people with
alternative sources of water.
The organisation also called for the immediate revocation of
licences granted to transnational corporations that have made
them owners of the country’s springs and other given
patrimonies.
COV/COKEY
