Borehole levy in Delta state: citizens call on UN, AU to prevail on Gov Okowa.
The Delta state government recently updated an order for the collection and payment of borehole levy and other water-allied levies in the state, and reiterated commitments to pursue offenders.
The order stipulates that domestic, industrial and commercial boreholes are to be levied.
While the State government license fee for domestic boreholes according to the order will cost citizens of the state N2,500.00 per annum, the license fee for commercial boreholes costs N35,000 per annum, and for industrial and government establishments, the license fee is N50,000.00 per annum.
“All Nations must enact and domesticate the law that water is life, availability is compulsory and it is human rights.
“The Delta State Government must stop and revoke its order for the collection and payment of borehole levy/levies and other water-allied levies,” the President of MAP, Chief Bobson Gbinije said.
Chief Gbinije said governments must provide drinkable, clean, clear and hygienic water for the vast majority of its citizenry.
He said the recent discovery of a sieve and sift system that can de-salinize water very effectively must be interrogated and put to good use globally, stressing that the menace of water pollution through pipelines vandalization must be forestalled.
“The apocalyptic narrative of water scarcity in Nigeria and nay our world should now be addressed with soldierly brevity by the United Nations, African Union, OAS, ASEAN countries and governments all over the world,” Gbinije submitted.
He said water is life and every government worth its salt should provide it to the people free of charge.