In 2017, the federal government transmitted a bill on water resource control and management to the National Assembly for consent. The billed hit the rocks, as it was stepped down. Nearly one and a half years after, those backing the bill, seeing that their initial obstacles in the legislature are out of their way and the body language of the leadership of the current National Assembly appeared friendlier to the Executive than their predecessors, reintroduced the bill for passage. The sponsors of the bill reckon their stars might align this time to get the contentious bill passed.

Sadly, just like in its first introduction, the bill is currently ripping through the legislative arm of government, leaving in its trail a polarized lawmaking institution and an anxious citizenry. Through this bill, the federal government is seeking to accrue more powers to itself by owning and controlling all the water resources, both surface and underground bodies of water, found in Nigeria.

At a time when there is a clamour for devolution of powers and resource control, the federal government, like Oliver Twist, wants more, owing to its dwindling revenues from oil. Opponents of the government also accuse it of having veiled its failed RUGA aspiration in this new bill. Critics question the FG’s justification for seeking to gain control of the nation’s water resources, when everything in sight under the control of the FG, such as crude oil exploration licensing, has not in any way improved the economic conditions of the host communities. They argue that the irresponsible exploration activities of the IOCs has largely gone unchecked by the government.

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