By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders to attract private sector investment and accelerate reforms aimed at improving urban sanitation and expanding access to safe water across Nigeria.
The commitment was made on Tuesday at the launch of the Nigeria Urban Sanitation Sector Diagnostic Report and the Africa Water Investment Programme in Abuja.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, represented by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary and Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, Ali Ibrahim Dallah, described the diagnostic report as a strategic roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s urban sanitation sector.
He said the report comes at a time when the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to strengthen sanitation services, improve sector governance and mobilise public and private investments to address the country’s sanitation infrastructure deficit.
Utsev commended the AfDB and the African Water Facility for their continued support to Nigeria’s water and sanitation sector, stressing that achieving universal access to safely managed sanitation services would require innovative financing, stronger institutions and increased private sector participation.
He noted that improved sanitation is essential for enhancing public health, protecting the environment, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic growth.
The Lead Operations Manager of the AfDB Nigeria Country Department, Orison Amu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to achieve universal access to safe water and sanitation.
He described the diagnostic report as a critical guide for future investments and policy reforms, urging stakeholders to translate its recommendations into concrete actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030.
Also speaking, the AfDB Division Manager, AHWS.1, Jeanne-Astrid Ngako De Foki, called for increased investment, innovative financing and stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, the private sector and communities to improve urban sanitation across the country.
Presenting an overview of Nigeria’s urban sanitation sector, the Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Jamilu Habu, identified inadequate financing, weak institutional coordination and poor sanitation infrastructure as major challenges affecting service delivery.
He advocated stronger governance, greater private sector involvement and sustained stakeholder collaboration to accelerate progress.
The event featured technical presentations by water and sanitation experts, interactive sessions and discussions on strategies to strengthen urban sanitation governance, mobilise investment and improve sustainable sanitation services nationwide.
Participants, including representatives of federal and state governments, development partners, financial institutions, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector, pledged to support the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
