ACHIEVING POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA: LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES IN WATER MANAGEMENT

Present federal efforts at poverty alleviation seeks to promote effective and equitable development of all sectors of the national population in general and the rural poor in particular i in order to attain long term social and economic development. Water sustains life and every developmental effort of mankind will translate into nothing without its availability in the right quality and quantity when and where needed. Indeed, the wants of man in regard to the element of water is natural and absolutely necessary to his existence. To quench thirst, and for household and hydraulic uses, water is absolutely indispensable. In cultured life, water for plants and animals is also necessary for living. These wants must be supplied otherwise man, flora and fauna will all perish. Thus, the challenges posed by water to Nigeria’s poverty alleviation drive is essentially how to strike a delicate balance between water as the most. important means for livelihood and as a resource.