France through the French Development Agency (AFD) is supporting sustainable infrastructure development and the strengthening of institutions to ensure improved access to water in Nigeria.
The agency, for the past 15 years, has been funding water boards and corporations across seven states; with its first water project funding in Ogun State worth $33 ending in 2023, which saw to the increase and improvement of water supply to residents of Abeokuta.
AFD has also completed jointly funded water projects with the World Bank in Cross Rivers and Lagos State that has benefited over one million people, with some areas in Calabar and Cross Rivers towns witnessing increase in water access from six to 23 hours per day.
Having invested $233 million in Nigeria’s water sector, of which four Water Boards and Corporations in Kano, Enugu, Ondo and Plateau states still benefit from its financial and technical support, AFD said “over 1.8 million Nigerians should get improved access or new access to water.”
The funding will provide intervention through the provision of sustainable infrastructure via the construction or rehabilitation of water plants, and the expansion of the existing water supply network; and the improvement of water services through streamlined governance and institutional strengthening.
The latter, AFD said, can be achieved through the establishment of water tariff policies, the implementation of metering systems which can increase the financial autonomy and technical capacities of Water Boards and Corporations.
AFD believes that supporting development and improvement of access to water in Nigeria will address the realities of climate change impacts in the country. These include lesser rainfalls in the northern parts of the country compared to the central and southern parts.
There is also the intensified conflicts of farmer – herder clashes/conflicts, which could impact further food production, the risk of flooding increases on both urban and rural areas.
“Without proper water resources management, the economic and human consequences could hamper Nigeria’s economic growth. The public water supply corporations will be more than ever at the forefront of this battle against climate change and will have to thrive to adapt. France through AFD will stay alongside Nigeria to support this transition,” said the agency.
