By Blessing Odega
A member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Mark Na’ah (APC/Jos North West), has called on the state government to declare a state of emergency in the water sector.
Na’ah made the call in a notice of motion during the assembly plenary on Wednesday in Jos.
The lawmaker told his colleagues that his constituents were suffering from acute water shortages and hence the motion.
Na’ah said that chapter 2, section 20 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) stated that the right to clean and accessible water was categorised as an economic and environmental objective of the state.
According to him, the constitution further stated that the right to clean and accessible water was a socioeconomic right that must be guaranteed.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the right had remained unrealised for many of his constituents, particularly those who resided in areas such as Rukuba Road, Kabong, Utan, Tudun Wada, and Jenta Adamu.
“This right remains unrealised for many of my constituents; for over two decades, reliable water access has been absent, with recent attempts at relief highlighting the severity of the water shortage crisis rather than providing sustainable solutions,” he said.
Na’ah, in his motion, called on the Ministry for Water and Energy to immediately assess and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the water supply infrastructure in Jos North-West.
The lawmaker said that the evaluation would identify the challenges and gaps that were responsible for the prolonged neglect and take immediate action to address such challenges.
He further called for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and sustainable plan to address the water crisis there by providing access to potable water for all residents.
Na’ah urged the government to allocate adequate resources for the rehabilitation and expansion of existing water infrastructures and for the development of new water sources.
He also called for the establishment of a transparent and accountable mechanism to monitor the progress of reforms in the water sector. NAN
UBO/PAT
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