By Admin
The Cross River State Government has called on stakeholders, professional associations, and private investors to support its renewed efforts to address the deepening water crisis, citing overwhelming sectoral challenges that demand urgent collaboration and regulation.
This renewed call for partnership was made during a stakeholder engagement meeting organized by the Cross River Ministry of Water Resources and the Cross River State Water Board Limited in Calabar on Monday.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Bassey Mensah, described the situation as dire and unsustainable, stressing that the state cannot resolve the crisis alone.
“It is so huge that the state cannot even drive the process alone. We must look outward for investors to assist. Particularly, we are not supposed to have the number of boreholes we currently do in this state. That sector should function properly,” Bassey said.
He decried the proliferation of over 100 boreholes in just 120 homes within the Water Board Estate, warning of its long-term danger to the water table. He contrasted this with a U.S. community of similar size that functions efficiently with a single regulated water source.
The Commissioner also criticized the growing inequality in water access, with many resorting to unregulated private alternatives.
“You can see inequality in the water sector. Where lies the strength of that man who cannot afford a borehole? Who doesn’t even have the money to buy?” he asked.
Bassey announced that the newly passed Water Law had received the Governor’s assent, ushering in a new era of regulation and enforcement.
“Let no one think the honeymoon will continue. We have deliberately refused to do what is right in the past, but now, there will be consequences. You must apply. There must be inspection. We are going to do things right,” he declared.
He also accused some private service providers of exploiting residents and delivering substandard services, vowing to enforce professional standards.
“People pay for services and don’t get value. I am a victim too. I won’t mention names, but I will go after them,” he added.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Okon Ita, traced the water sector’s regulatory vacuum to over a decade of neglect, which the new Water Law now seeks to correct.
“For over 13 years, this sector had no regulatory law. Just this year, we finally passed one,” Okon said.
He emphasized that the goal is not to stifle private operators but to protect public health and ensure sustainable access to potable water.
“Many people don’t even know the potability of the water they consume. Recurrent typhoid fever is often a sign that the water source is contaminated,” he noted.
He added that the Ministry would begin quality assessments of existing boreholes within a three-month window and urged practitioners under the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN) to register and comply with new guidelines.
On his part, the Chairman of BODAN, Cross River State Chapter, Prince Edem, welcomed the reforms and called for sustained engagement, technical support, and incentives to encourage compliance among members.
All speakers emphasized that the government is not against private sector participation but is determined to create a fair, regulated water ecosystem that safeguards public health and reduces inequality.
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to implement the reforms, register borehole operators, enforce compliance, and maintain continuous dialogue with professional associations.
