CSOs urge stakeholders to leverage Enugu water law to solve crisis in sector

The coalition, under the auspices of WASH Rights Network (WRN), during a stakeholders’ engagement on the 2021 Enugu State water law, stated it might not achieve desired objectives without stakeholders’ participation in its implementation.

The law was assented by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on August 3, 2021, after the State House of Assembly passed it.
Coordinator, WRN, Mrs. Amaka Nweke, said: “Having the law in place may not achieve the goal of ensuring that people of Enugu have access to portable and clean water.”

She stated that the engagement is required to review implementation of the law so far; possible challenges government may face in enforcing it and how they could be addressed.

State Programme Lead, WaterAid, Solomon Akpanfot, stated that the organisation worked with other relevant stakeholders to put the law together and ensured it’s passage last year based on its belief that clean water and basic hygiene are the right of everyone.

He stated that the water law outlined various duties expected of government and citizenry for sustainable access to water and hygiene in the state, stressing that if well implemented, it would address water crisis in the state.

He stated that it provided for development, construction, control, operation and maintenance of new water works and equipment for the purpose of providing wholesome, portable water consumption for private and public use.

“It ensures compliance with regulation and standard, as well as receives and pursues complaints from consumers on quality of water, leakages, damages in water connection and illegal charges.

“It undertakes design and construction of new water and sanitation services assets, WASH education and create awareness of WASH principles in rural areas among others,” he added.