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Water Resources Bill Will Generate More Income For Government, Says Ale
. calls for non politicization of bill
A Sustainable Development Expert (SDG) and Founder, CEO of Global Initiative for Nigeria Development (GIND) Development, Engr Michael Ale has called on Nigerians to shun the call for the withdrawal of the Water Resources bill by various political and sociolo cultural groups as many are just reacting without critical understanding of the content of the proposed Water bill currently at the National Assembly.
Engr Ale made this call while featuring on an Ibadan based radio station programme on Thursday.
He explained that Nigerians should not put political reason why the water bill should not be passed adding that each state can come up with their bill just like the recently launched Operation Amotekun in the south west.
The Sustainable Development Expert said if the bill is to be amended, some portion of the bill that has been greeeted with controversy should be expunged, then a replica of the bill should be enacted at the state level by the state assemblies with the establishment of a regulatory commission at their level.
“if anyone want to abstract the water should get a permit this is non sacrosanct.
Why should just some part of a bill which has been greeted with controversy because of the political marauding now makes the whole document invaluable. It’s like throwing away the baby with bath water.
In line with the International best practices, water law is important for protection of our water resources, just like we have laws governing airspace and land activities in the International best practices.
The former world bank consultant on water to the World Bank further explained that the current practice along the water sector is the Integrated Water Resources Management Commission which requires that the water Resources must be Governed and Managed well for the sake of sustainable and equitable use of common Resources by all, irrespective of political affiliations, race, gender and sociology cultural belief and interpretations.
He stated that current political atmosphere and the bad naming of the bill is creating unnecessary apprehension in the political terrains leading to misconceptions and distortions of the process that has gone through a legislative proceedings.”
“If the portion of the bill can be amended not all the content of the bill, it isn’t perfect as far as am concern because it has been trailed with controversy, if it has not been trailed with controversy and not misinterpreted then it is a perfect deal, but federal government can come from everywhere all over Nigeria and take over the land”
“When many are asking for the drop of the proposed bill, then they can also ask for federal government to stay away from their developmental project like water, roads, markets and other projects being executed by Government. Those interpreting the bill don’t even have the authority to do so.”
It is a pity this bill is coming at a later time because of the denigrate effect of the water and the consequences of our economic mistrust.
Imagine if petroleum regulatory bill is coming at this time, am so sure it will not pass. What is not regulated cannot be termed to be economically important. Water is both social and economic goods, it’s a human right and must be protected.
“Water Resources is causing war in some countries now, imagine the flooding we experience yearly and nothing has been done on curbing it, this bill gives direction on who takes responsibility and how things are done in the properly.
Let’s take the critical look at the petroleum industry.”
“For example, federal government control who establishes petrol stations and state government is still part of that activities that has to do with establishment of petrol station, do we have any controversy over that? There could be synergy between federal and state government on this.”
“Recently, just about two weeks ago, on the main road, somebody was drilling on the main street of Sabo in Oyo State causing vehicular gridlock preventing Nigerians from their means of livelihood, when there is no law, what do you expect? imaging that most of these bottling industries have been abstracting the common Resources which belongs to you and I free without any guideline on replenishment or guiding principle to give back to the operating community thus making billions of dollars yearly without any recourse to the source for its protection.
Engr Ale said the state government and federal government should can come with permit, licensing fees, water use charges and the rest, and no need for people to attribute to Ruga, adding that Ruga is not coming through back door as many Nigerians believed.
He further disclosed that the benefit of the bill is that most practitioners would be supported by financial institutions, and it should not be all comers affair especially by foreigners who takes no interest on what happened in the enviroment as their only interest is to make dollars and send back to their countries.
“The merit is that business would grow, water quality would be protected and it prevents any earth tremor because people can control any activities they are doing and by the time they get license, governm ent are getting taxes to take care of you and I.”
“This could be an additional means where government can get money, not from the poor but for the rich that has taken advantage of activities. Let us open our eyes and read the bill very well. A lot of people that are commenting on the bill has not read the bill, they want to put political attributes to it, let’s expunged that part and let us see the activities.”
He said that the demerit is all about how the bill has been presented adding that Nigeria as a nation must allow regulations in its developmental efforts in order for it to move forward.
News
Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons
The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.
Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.
Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.
Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils
Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.
Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.
“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.
“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.
The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.
“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”
When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”
Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.
According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.
“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.
The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.
Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”
Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.
The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.
The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.
Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.
A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy
The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.
However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.
“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.
Mass Deportations Under Trump
Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.
Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.
The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.
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