By James Hope
The Ecumenical Water Network Africa, EWNA, has called on lawmakers both at the National and State level in Ekiti State to make water accessible to communities in the state.
The project’s convener, Very Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, made this call during a media roundtable held in the state on Monday, stating that access to clean water is a fundamental right of the people.
He noted that EWNA, which is spearheading the “Voices of Water Justice Project” in Ekiti State, Nigeria, is committed to seeing that the communities in the state become blue communities where water water becomes accessible and affordable for those in the community.
He appealed to the lawmakers representing various constituencies in the state to empty water reservoirs and also repair damaged and abandoned ones, rather than drilling boreholes in selected communities that only a select few can get access to.
He also stated that the Project which commenced in 2023 with a Parliament meeting involving two communities in the state who are connected to dams, Ifaki and Aramoko communities, revealed that the Ifaki reservoirs have been abandoned and appealed to the government to do something about it.
Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi, maintained that the Network is opposed to the idea of commercialization and privatization of water, adding that this only adds to the burdens of the citizens and shifts the responsibility of providing this basic amenity needed to survive for the people.
“Water should not be privatized, especially in Ekiti State where the GDP is low and most of the people are poor.
“Government should take up it’s responsibility of providing water for the people.” He stated.
He urged lawmakers in the state to engage their constituencies on the issue of clean, affordable and accessible water, adding that doing this will lead to less outbreak of diseases and better healthy living for the people of the state.