The Cross River State Government has emphasised its commitment to restoring order in the water sector, which has operated for over 13 years without regulatory oversight.
This was disclosed during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Calabar, organised by the State Ministry of Water Resources and the Cross River State Water Board Limited.
At the event, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Bassey Mensah, described the state’s water situation as alarming, noting that the challenges are too enormous for the government to tackle alone.
He appealed to private investors and stakeholders for support in reviving the sector.
“It is so huge that the state cannot even drive the process. We have to look outside to see if we can get investors to assist us. Particularly, we are not supposed to have the number of boreholes we have in this state. That sector should function,” he said.
Mensah decried the proliferation of boreholes, citing a disturbing example from the Water Board Estate where over 100 boreholes serve just 120 homes, a trend he said poses serious risks to the environment and the water table.
He stressed the importance of regulation in ensuring fairness and safety, stating, “Where lies the strength of that man who cannot afford a borehole? Who doesn’t even have the money to buy?”
According to Mensah, the recent passage and assent of the new Water Law by the Governor signal a turning point in the sector. He warned that previous practices marked by neglect and exploitation would no longer be tolerated.
“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,” he stated.
He also accused some water service providers of cutting corners and shortchanging the public, adding, “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.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Okon Ita, provided background on the Water Law, describing it as a long-overdue reform aimed at safeguarding public health and ensuring sustainable service delivery.
“Every other sector has regulation, health, schools, transport, but for over 13 years, the water sector has had none. Just this year, we finally passed the law,” Ita said.
He clarified that the goal of regulation is not to stifle private enterprise but to ensure quality and public safety. “Many people don’t know the potability of the water they drink. Recurrent typhoid fever is often a sign that the water source is contaminated,” he warned.
Ita announced that the ministry would begin quality assessments of existing boreholes within three months and urged practitioners to register and adhere to the new standards.
Chairman of the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN), Cross River Chapter, Prince Edem, appealed for government support in the form of training, incentives, and ongoing dialogue to encourage professionalism among members.
All speakers reiterated that the reforms are not aimed at eliminating private participation, but at creating a fair, safe, and regulated environment for water supply in the state.
