The River Basin Development Authority Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 scaled second reading on Thursday 10th November 2016 in Senate. Among others, River Basin Development Authorities are established to construct, operate and maintain dams, dykes, wells, boreholes, irrigation and drainage systems. They also develop and keep up to date, a comprehensive water resources master plan and the socio-economic and environmental data of the River Basin concerned.
Leading debate on the bill, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP:Enugu) noted that although Nigeria has 12 River Basin Development Authorities for its six geopolitical zones in the country, the distribution of the 12 authorities among the geo-political zones leave the South East with only one. That is, the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority. He also highlighted the inadequacy of the described River Basin to cater for the five States in the South East geo-political zone.
Enumerating further on the Bill, he mentioned that the bill would divide the existing Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority into two, namely, an Imo River Basin Development Authority catering for Imo and Abia States, and an Anambra River Basin Development Authority providing for Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States.
He also added that the bill seeks to realign the jurisdiction of the various River Basins Development Authorities for ease of reference and administration, and provide a legal basis for some existing River Basin Development Authorities that had no law creating them like the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Water Resources for further legislative input. Although the Bill was passed by the National Assembly in the 6th Assembly; it was not assented to at the end of that Assembly.
