Abuja — The European Community (EC) is supporting the water and sanitation sector in Nigeria with a grant of Euro 120 million, which amounts to N20 billion.

The assertion was made by Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Nigeria, Ambassador Robert Van der Meulen, at the Retreat for presentation of the third draft of the National Water Resources Bill to the House Committee on Water Resources.

Van der Meulen, represented by Ramon Reigada, the Head of Section for Rural Development, Water and Health, noted that water and sanitation was on the top list of the EC Country Support Strategy (2002-2008). "The Community is supporting the Nigerian Water and Sanitation Sector with a grant of over Euro 120 Million (an equivalent of over 20 billion naira)", he said.

According to Head of the Delegation, the main objective of the EC intervention in this sector is the achievement of the water-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specially targeted to halving by 2015, the number of people without access to safe drinking water supply and adequate sanitation.

This, to them, can be realised through effective collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, and understanding of the legislature for appropriate laws.

"It is our belief that Nigeria can achieve this Millennium goal if the right sector policy framework and institutions are in place. Towards this objective, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, with the support of the EC, has developed a strategic framework for the implementation of the National Water Policy and the production of the Draft Water Resources Bill which is being presented to you today", he explained.

In his key note address, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Abba Ruma Sayyadi, emphasised that the reform in the water sector would be incomplete without a proper Pan-Nigerian Water Law in place. He noted that the "Decree 101 of 1993, now Act 100 of 1999 has not been implemented because of some inherent flaws which made it impracticable, hence the need for the review".

Sayyadi reminded the Committee Members and stakeholders, that the Water Sector Bills such as National Integrated Water Resources Commission Bill, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency Bill, and Gurara Water Management Authority Bill, were borne out of the need to reposition the Water Resources Sector for efficient and effective service delivery in line with global standards. He appealed to the House Committee to address the legislative issues hindering effective and efficient water and sanitation policies in the country.

"I challenge you once again to use this opportunity to redress the flaws in the different Bills and come up with suggestions that will improve the existing water law, as well as impact positively on the sector in particular and Nigeria as a whole", he said.