Rivers govt. to stamp out sale, production of unhealthy water for consumption

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

The Rivers State Government has expressed readiness to regulate the water industry in order to eliminate quacks for quality water consumption and a healthy life for residents of the State.

Speaking at the on-going three day Stakeholders forum on Water Management and Regulation with the theme, Safe Water for healthy life in Port-Harcourt, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr TamunoSisi Gogo Jaja stated that, the move is to ensure standard amongst water producers, adding that, quackery has hindered most water business.

Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr TamunoSisi Gogo Jaja(with facemask) welcoming Rivers House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Hon Lolo Isaiah Opuende

Dr Jaja blamed the cause of most water related illnesses like typhoid fever to poor water consumption, urging water producers who cited their plants outside the State to construct same in the State and advised distributors as well as shop owners to ensure they know the source of water they are selling.

The Water Resources and Rural Development Commissioner further announced plans to give certification to water producers who have undergone the Ministry’s quality water sample testing.

In his remarks, the House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, Hon Lolo Isaiah Opuende praised the efforts made by the Commissioner, in coming up with novel ways to improve the water sector in the State, assuring that, he will give the necessary legislative support to enable his Ministry actualized their set objectives.

In his paper presentation titled checking quackery in the borehole drilling industry, the Director Water Supply, Quality Control and Sanitation in the Ministry, Engr Amatemeso Emmanuel, urged consumers to report quacks to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary measures rather than patronising them, noting that, by so doing, the trend will be checked.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Ebenezer Kalio in his opening remarks, noted that, the Ministry under the leadership of the Commissioner have made series of remarkable innovatives inline with the water sector reform law No. 7 of 2012 and this he said, have created a portal that seek to identity different practitioners in the water industry.

Mr Kalio added that, a total of 400 water producers, 100 borehole drillers, 15 water quality testing laboratory owners have registered on the portal at the end of the free registration period.

The stakeholders meeting continues on Thursday with the borehole drillers, engineers and laboratory owners expected to be in attendance.