Kogi State assemblyman, Bin-Ebaiya Tijjani, has urged the state government to give priority to provision of quality and safe drinking water to residents of the state.
Tijjani, who is House Committee Chairman on Water Resources, made the plea during the committee’s inaugural ceremony at the Speaker’s Lodge in Lokoja on Monday.
“It is my plea to Kogi Government to make access to safe water its top priority by increasing the budget allocation to Ministry for Water Resources and its agencies.
“This is because our committee inherited numerous complaints from its predecessors which bothers on water distribution to various parts of the state, particularly the state capital, Lokoja.
“This committee is therefore assuring the people of the state that it will ensure that this issues are well attended to through its oversight functions.
“Water is life, they say, if truly that is the case, then the committee must do all that is necessary to save lives by ensuring there is adequate provision of water for the people of the state, ” he assured.
The committee chairman pledged his committee’s readiness to be diligent, effective and efficient in carrying out its noble assignment of ensuring that residents got good supply of potable water.
He added: “We shall therefore strive to sustain the integrity of the Kogi House of Assembly and operate within the limits of the law. We shall also be free, fair and just to all and would operate without fear or favor.”
Tijjani, however, called for the co-operation and collaboration of stakeholders with the committee, for it to succeed in its onerous assignment.
“We seek your quick response to all invitation that may be sent to you for any reason and also endeavor to receive us whenever the committee finds it expedient to reach out to you,” he appealed.
Earlier, while inaugurating the committee, Speaker Umar Yusuf tasked the members to be up and doing to ensure residents got potable water supply at all times.
Since last November’s flood, the residents of Lokoja metropolis did not get tap water until July ending when it stated rushing.
