FG Targets Water Security With National Compact

The federal government has commenced a nationwide stakeholder consultations towards finalising the Nigeria National Water Compact (NWC), a strategic framework aimed at strengthening water security, sanitation, irrigation and environmental sustainability across the country.

The minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the Nationwide Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop for the development of the NWC.

Utsev said the draft compact was developed by a National Technical Working Committee comprising representatives of the federal and state governments, development partners, academia, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the private sector.

He said the document was being developed to domesticate the Africa Water Vision and Policy 2025–2063 while addressing Nigeria’s specific water and sanitation challenges.

The minister said the Compact was expected to provide a practical roadmap for transforming the country’s water sector and improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services.

He identified rapid urbanisation, population growth, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented institutional arrangements and financing constraints as major challenges affecting Nigeria’s ability to achieve sustainable water security.

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

Utsev said the Federal Government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had continued to prioritise strategic investments, institutional reforms and interventions aimed at improving water security and the quality of life of Nigerians.

He explained that the National Water Compact would be anchored on three major pillars: Water for People, Water for Food Security and Water for Planet.

The minister said the framework would seek to strengthen governance and institutional coordination, improve financing for the water sector, accelerate access to safe and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services, promote irrigation development and enhance overall water security.

He stressed that the Compact must not be treated as a document belonging to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation alone, but as a national commitment that reflects the priorities and realities of Nigerians.

Utsev disclosed that he had written to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to secure the political commitment and participation of the 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory in the process, given the constitutional and operational responsibilities of states in water supply, sanitation and hygiene services.

He added that President Tinubu had also been briefed on the progress made in developing the draft Compact.

“The objective of this consultation is to ensure that all stakeholders contribute towards shaping a Compact that truly belongs to all Nigerians,” he said.

He urged participants to identify gaps in the draft document, propose strategic actions, strengthen implementation arrangements and ensure that vulnerable communities were not left behind.

Also speaking, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dalla, said the consultation was necessary to build a shared national vision for the water sector and ensure that the Compact was realistic, inclusive, implementable and sustainable.

Dalla said achieving sustainable water security would require stronger collaboration among the federal, state and local governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations and communities.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said the Compact would help bridge the gap between water governance and healthcare delivery, stressing that access to safe water and sanitation was fundamental to public health.

Salako noted that water was essential for hygiene, infection prevention and control, cleaning, sanitation and healthcare procedures.

He said the integrated approach adopted by the Compact was important because water, health, agriculture, the environment and climate resilience were interconnected.

According to him, floods, droughts and other environmental pressures have direct consequences for water availability, water quality and public health.

He called for stronger collaboration across sectors and levels of government, alongside clear responsibility metrics, sustainable financing, effective monitoring and SMART performance indicators.