The chairman, Nasarawa State Fisheries Cooperative Federation Limited (NSFCFL), Hon Mohammed Bashir Umar has sent a save-our-soul (SOS) message to the Nasarawa State governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule to as matter of importance bring succour to members of the association by providing potable water to fishermen living within the vicinity of Doma Dam, Pankshin Doma and Kututure community.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the chairman said fishermen and other members of the six value chains are surviving on untreated water from rivers as a source of drinking water, stressing that over the years, some of such people are suffering from waterborne diseases.
He explained that the recent flood disaster which displaced settlers within the riverine communities and contaminated bodies of water has affected some settlements that have no access to drinking water.
“I’m appealing to Governor Abdullahi Sule to consider the plight of fishermen by providing boreholes to them. The provision of boreholes can go a long way to tackle the acute shortage of water as well as stop people from taking untreated water, “ he said.
Hon Umar who attributed absence of ‘water law and policy’ as some of the hindrances affecting water in the state, called on the state house of assembly to as matter of urgency come up with a new law and policy that will address cases of water pollution which he said also constitutes to the contamination of water.
“The use of poison to catch fish is illegal but due to lack of water laws and policies, our hands are tied and we don’t have anything to do at this point,” he said.
