Adamu said “if states like Kebbi where River Niger comes in or Adamawa where River Benue flows in decided to control the water at their end, it would affect the downstream communities.”

 

“That is why since independence, our constitution has made it that the water that flows across inter-state or inter-regional boundaries, as it were at that time, the responsibility for that should be vested by the Federal Government. There is nothing unusual about it. This is what is obtained everywhere in the world,” he said.

 

The minister said Nigeria entered into a treaty with eight other countries in the early 1960s to form the Niger Basin Authority.

 

According to the minister, Nigeria entered into a treaty with eight other countries in the early 1960s to form the Niger Basin Authority, and that partnership has seen the survival of Kainji and Jebba dams.

 

Adamu urged all those with conflicting opinions to present them at the proposed public hearing, saying such persons were only determined to rubbish the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

“You know, this Bill went through so many things, including a review by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who is one of the leading legal experts on environmental law and their opinion is that there is nothing wrong with this Bill.

 

“So, why tie it to politics when it should be tied to development? I think we should opt out of that cocoon. For those that are opposed to the Bill, please, have an open mind about it and look at it.

 

“We will continue to pursue this Bill because it’s our responsibility as government. The ministry and many experts were involved in the formulation of this Bill for close to 20 years,” he said.

 

The minister said he would not allow the actions of critics to mock efforts to reposition the Water Resources sector, and the Bill remains the major instrument to make it happen.

 

“So, to the last day that I am the minister in this ministry, I will continue to pursue this Bill to its logical conclusion,” he said.