TheCable

Abdulaziz Yari, chairman of the senate committee on water resources, says the legislature and the executive arms of government must work closely to provide clean water for Nigerians in line with the UN’s sustainable development goal (SDG) number six.

Yari, senator representing Zamfara west, spoke on Thursday at the inauguration of his committee.

Wateraid, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), said more than 60 million Nigerians do not have access to clean water supply.

The former governor 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,” he said.

“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.

“This is a 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.”

The Zamfara senator said the committee should be focused on what Nigerians want in the water sector.