FG, development partners seek stronger reforms in water sector

Nigeria's Federal Government and its international development partners are intensifying efforts to reform the urban water supply and sanitation sector. A workshop held in Abuja brought together stakeholders to address the persistent challenges hindering service delivery across the country.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, highlighted that increasing water scarcity, population growth, climate change, and significant financing gaps are major obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts, large infrastructure investments, and major governance and policy reforms.

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provision of quality water services remains one of the biggest challenges in many countries in Africa, and Nigeria is no exception.

The workshop, organized by the ministry in collaboration with the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and the European Union, with financial support from France, aimed to find a "way forward" for sector reform. Participants included state commissioners, permanent secretaries, and chief executives of state water agencies.

Development partners have a history of financing numerous programs to improve water infrastructure for both urban and rural populations. These interventions include various National Urban Water Sector Reform Projects and specific water and sanitation improvement projects in several states, underscoring a long-term commitment to addressing the nation's water challenges.

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With increasing water scarcity and risks associated with population growth and climate change variability, combined with the financing gap experienced in many countries, to meet the SDGs for Water (Goal 6.1) and Sanitation (Goal 6.2), concerted effort is needed and through large infrastructure investments in water and sanitation, major governance and policy reforms, and an integrated approach towards sustainable water management and more importantly partnership.