Senate expresses commitment to providing clean water for Nigerians

The Senate Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Abdulaziz Yari has expressed commitment of the 10th Senate to legislate and undertake oversight functions on water projects across the country to ensure clean water for Nigerians.

He spoke at the inaugural meeting of his Committee on Thursday, saying the parliament, the executive and other stakeholders would collaborate to deliver clean water in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number six.

Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District said the Committee under his leadership would provide the federal government with the necessary support to ensure that water for sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is provided for Nigerians.

"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.