Plateau communities reject Gov. Lalong’s water law

Native communities in Plateau State have kicked against the Water Law signed by Governor Simon Lalong, seeking to privatise water in the state.

The communities are: Angwan Rukuba, Jenta Aclamu, Federal Low-cost, Alheri, Tudun-Wada, and Utan.

They made their stand known in a communique issued yesterday at the end of a town hall meeting in Jos, the state capital.

The signatories are: Atsen Yakubu Arin, Paul Adagbo, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Mercy Ichor, Bethel Isa Joseph, Timothy Ravo, and Ismail A.Rabiu and Garba Daho for the respective communities.

They noted that the meeting was informed by the signing into law of the Plateau State Water Sector Bill by Governor Simon Lalong despite the public opposition to its pro-privatization provisions.

They urged the Governor to expunge portion of the law that are anti-people.

“The hasty signing of the Plateau State Water Sector Law by Governor Simon Lalong is capable of rupturing the existing peace in the state,” the communique warned.

The town hall meeting was convened by National President, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Benjamin Anthony; the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and coalition of civil society and grassroots.

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