Abdulaziz Yari, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water Resources, has affirmed the 10th Senate’s unwavering commitment to enacting legislation and conducting oversight functions related to water projects nationwide, with the primary objective of ensuring that Nigerians have access to clean water.
During the inaugural meeting of his Committee, Yari highlighted the collaborative efforts expected from the parliament, the executive branch, and other stakeholders in the pursuit of delivering clean water, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number six.
Representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, Yari emphasized that his Committee, under his leadership, will offer vital support to the federal government in the provision of water resources for sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to benefit the Nigerian populace. This commitment reinforces the dedication of the Senate to addressing the critical issue of clean water accessibility and underscores its alignment with global sustainability goals.
“We are all aware that water is life, and it is the responsibility of the government to provide clean water for all our people.
“At the same time, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that we harness the vast potential of water in energy production, irrigation for agriculture and transportation.
“This committee on water resources will work closely with the executive branch of our nation’s federal government to ensure that we play our role in providing effective oversight of the ministries, departments and agencies that deal with water.
“Most importantly, we will work to ensure that the work of this Committee is in line with the 10th Senate’s legislative agenda,” he said.
Answering questions on some controversial bills of past sessions from journalists after the inauguration, Yari said: “This is democracy, no matter what our intentions are, we have to listen to the yearnings of our people in terms of the bills that we propose and the oversight actions that we take.”
Wateraid, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), revealed that more than 60 million Nigerians do not have access to clean water supply.
