By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Federal Government has commenced nationwide consultations with states and other stakeholders to develop a National Water Compact aimed at tackling Nigeria’s persistent water and sanitation challenges and strengthening water security.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ consultation workshop on the 2026–2030 National Water Compact.
Utsev said the initiative would address challenges including population growth, rapid urbanisation, climate change, inadequate infrastructure, weak institutional coordination and limited financing.
He said a draft of the compact had been developed following consultations with government agencies, state governments, development partners, academia, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the private sector.
According to him, the compact will provide a coordinated framework for improving access to safe water and sanitation, irrigation and sustainable water resources management nationwide.
The minister said the Federal Government had also engaged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to secure the commitment and ownership of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
