Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Executive Director, New-Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI), Mrs Florence Ifeanyi-Aneke, has urged countries in Africa to reject water privatisation and prioritise water supply for her citizens.
She made the call on in Enugu during an event to commemorate the 2022 Africa Water Week.
She said that NELCCI was partnering with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) to mark the event titled “African Communities Against Water Privatization.”
Aneke also said that, the Africa week of action, coincided with the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The two institutions are driving privatisation agenda with huge funds and promises of loans to Africa,” she said.
According to her, communities across Africa, especially those under threat of water privatisation were calling on African governments to refuse the temptation to privatise water resources.
“Local communities in Nigeria have joined other communities across the continent, including Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal Uganda, to make this demand.
“They are pleading with governments to prioritise water provision as a human right as opposed to business venture,” she said.
She recalled that in 2021, at the inaugural week of action against water privatisation in Africa, civil society and labour groups across the continent resisted privatisation of water.
Aneke said that during a community water parliament action held in Amoli community in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State, the residents complained about lack of access to public and clean water.
“Upon inquiries from the community members, we observed that, water which is an essential natural resource has turned to a scarce commodity for common people,” she said.
She explained that communities, working in collaboration with civil society and labour groups under the auspices of “Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition” also opposed the idea of water privatisation.
“In line with this, they held town hall meetings, protest marches and meetings with policy makers to press home their opposition to water privatisation schemes and the commodification of water,” she said.
She said that Amoli community water had been priced out of the reach of locals, forcing women and young girls to go the extra miles to get water.
Aneke said the community members during the sensitisation, used the opportunity of the week of action to state their opposition to the proposed “National Water Resources Bill.”
“Communities are standing in solidarity because when they are deprived of a basic right which guarantees their existence they stand the risk of being wiped out of existence.
“The key demand of the people of Amoli is that government should discard privatisation plans and invest in public water systems that will benefit its people directly.”
