AFD Pushes For Stronger Governance, Sustainable Water Utilities In Nigeria

The French Development Agency (AFD) has called for stronger governance and institutional reforms in Nigeria’s water sector, saying they are critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and improved access to potable water.

AFD Country Director, Jacky Amprou, made the call in Abuja during a peer-learning workshop that brought together representatives from 25 states to examine challenges and opportunities in the water sector.

Amprou said the agency currently manages an investment portfolio worth €300 million aimed at expanding water infrastructure and improving service delivery across several states, including Kano, Enugu, Plateau and Ondo.

He said the intervention focuses on building infrastructure and providing technical support to state water utilities to improve efficiency and access.

“AFD has been deeply involved in supporting access to water in several states. We are financing many investments, but we also want to engage with the different states on the governance of the water sector,” Amprou said.

He stressed that beyond infrastructure delivery, long-term success depends on making state water boards financially sustainable and capable of managing assets effectively.

“We must develop a shared vision with the states on the long-term governance of the water sector, ensuring that water boards become financially sustainable and capable of maintaining and managing infrastructure effectively,” he added.

The workshop highlighted major disparities in water access across Nigeria, with state officials sharing concerns over infrastructure gaps and weak service delivery.

In Nasarawa State, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Madawa Absolom, said urban water coverage in Lafia stands at only two per cent, forcing residents to rely heavily on private boreholes.

He also warned of a severe sanitation challenge, noting that the state has a 46 per cent Open Defecation Free deficit, which poses risks to public health and water safety.

In Kaduna State, Director of Operations at the Kaduna State Water Corporation, Aminu Mu’azu, said urban water coverage is about 60 per cent but is often disrupted by poor coordination with other infrastructure projects.

He said road construction activities frequently damage pipelines and electrical systems, increasing maintenance costs and affecting water supply.

AFD said addressing these challenges will require cost-recovery mechanisms, improved asset management, and governance reforms to ensure sustainable and reliable water services across the country.