Water crisis: FG begins nationwide consultation for sector-wide reforms

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide consultation with states and other stakeholders to develop a National Water Compact aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent water and sanitation challenges and strengthening water security across the country.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the nationwide stakeholders’ consultation workshop for the development of the Nigeria National Water Compact.

Utsev said the initiative was necessary to address persistent challenges in the water sector, including rapid urbanisation, population growth, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented institutional arrangements and financing constraints.

He said the challenges had continued to affect Nigeria’s ability to provide reliable water supply, sanitation services and productive water use.

“Water is at the centre of sustainable development. It underpins public health, food security, economic growth, environmental sustainability, energy production and national security,” the minister said.

The development of the compact comes amid longstanding concerns over the country’s ability to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene services to its booming population.

Recent efforts have increasingly focused on improving coordination between the FG and state governments, increasing investment in water infrastructure and strengthening institutional arrangements in the sector.

The challenge is particularly significant because water access is closely linked to public health, education, agricultural productivity and household welfare. Poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions can increase exposure to water-borne diseases, while unreliable water supply also affects schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and communities.

The FG has, therefore, sought to move beyond individual water projects towards a more coordinated national framework that brings together water supply, sanitation, irrigation, environmental protection, public health and climate resilience.

Against this background, Utsev said the compact was being developed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and would provide a coordinated framework for transforming the country’s water sector.

According to him, the compact will strengthen governance and institutional coordination, improve financing for the sector, accelerate access to safe and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services, support irrigation development and enhance water security.

The minister explained that the African Union’s adoption of the Africa Water Vision and Policy 2025–2063 had provided the impetus for Nigeria to develop its own national compact, while adapting the continental framework to the country’s specific needs and development priorities.

Utsev disclosed that the National Technical Working Committee, comprising representatives of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, development partners, academia, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the private sector, had completed the first draft of the compact.

He said the draft followed months of technical engagements, evidence-based analysis, inter-sectoral collaboration and consultations.

However, Utsev stressed that the document could not succeed without the ownership and participation of state governments and other stakeholders, particularly because states play a major role in the delivery and management of water supply, sanitation and hygiene services.

“The National Water Compact cannot succeed unless it reflects the aspirations, priorities and realities of the Nigerian people,” he said.

He disclosed that he had written to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure the commitment and participation of the 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory in the process.

Utsev added that President Tinubu had also been briefed on the progress made in developing the draft compact, adding that the nationwide consultation would enable stakeholders to identify gaps in the draft, determine state priorities, propose strategic actions and strengthen implementation arrangements before the final document is produced.

Utsev urged participants to provide practical recommendations that would strengthen the final document and ensure that its implementation produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Also speaking, the acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Ali Dalla, said the consultation provided an opportunity to build a national consensus on the future of Nigeria’s water sector.

Dalla said the compact must not be regarded as a government document alone but as a framework owned by all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, said water security was inseparable from public health and quality healthcare delivery.

Salako said inadequate access to water and sanitation had implications for hygiene, infection prevention and control, cleaning and healthcare delivery.

The minister called for stronger collaboration between the water and health sectors, noting that floods, droughts and other environmental pressures could directly affect water availability, water quality and public health.

The consultation is expected to produce recommendations that will feed into the final National Water Compact, which the government hopes will provide a clearer framework for coordinated investment and action across Nigeria’s water sector.