FG Moves to Reform Water Sector, Strengthen National Water Security
The Federal Government has begun consultations with state governments and other stakeholders to develop a National Water Compact aimed at tackling Nigeria’s persistent water and sanitation challenges. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on the proposed compact. He said the initiative would address challenges including rapid urbanisation, population growth, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, weak institutional coordination and funding constraints. According to Utsev, these problems continue to affect access to reliable water supply, sanitation services and productive water use. He described water as central to public health, food security, economic growth, environmental sustainability, energy production and national security. The proposed compact is designed to move the country towards a coordinated approach covering water supply, sanitation, irrigation, environmental protection, public health and climate resilience.
Utsev said the compact, being developed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would improve governance, financing and institutional coordination while expanding access to safe and climate-resilient water and sanitation services. He said a National Technical Working Committee made up of government agencies, state representatives, development partners, academia, professional bodies, civil society and the private sector had completed the first draft after months of consultations and analysis. The minister stressed that state participation was essential because states play a major role in water, sanitation and hygiene services. He said he had written to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure the involvement of the 36 governors and the FCT, while President Tinubu had also been briefed on the process. Acting Permanent Secretary Ali Dalla said the compact should be owned by all stakeholders, while Minister of State for Health Dr Adekunle Salako stressed that water security was inseparable from public health. The ongoing consultation is expected to identify gaps, establish priorities and produce recommendations for a final compact that will guide coordinated investment and action across Nigeria’s water sector.
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