Poor management of resources threatens water sector — Official

Mr Samuel Asukwo, the Area Manager, Akwa Ibom State Water Company, Oron branch, says uncoordinated and poor management of resources is threatening the development of the water sector in the country.

Asukwo made the assertion in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He noted that Nigerians had yet to have adequate water supply in spite of  the considerable investment in water schemes and related activities.

He blamed the situation on what he termed uncoordinated  and poor management of the abundant water resources in the country.

“The threats to the nation’s water resources are symptoms of poor and uncoordinated management of the resources at all levels of government, including non-implementation of the governing policy in the sector.

“Federal and state governments assume greater responsibility for overall management of the nation’s water resources.

“And in most cases, stakeholders are not consulted or otherwise involved in planning, development and management of the nation’s water resources.’’

He said that the desire to improve access to water had become harder because of the rapidly increasing demand for it.

“This rise in demand is consequent upon high population growth rate coupled with increasing urbanisation and the rising living condition.

“The nation’s water sources are under serious threat from inadequate catchment management and widespread pollution, including indiscriminate disposal of hazardous substances.

Asukwo further blamed water scarcity in the country to poor watershed management, deteriorating water quality, drought and desertification.

According to him, water scarcity is the major causes of water-related diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and guinea worm, all posing serious threats to public health.

He, therefore, underscored the need for government at all levels to implement policy governing the sector for the betterment of the citizens.

Asukwo also urged relevant authorities in the sector to take it as a matter of urgency to revamp the sector, adding that dry season which comes with high demand for water would soon set in.