By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in water supply, sanitation and irrigation development to support food security, economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The commitment was made during a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed AlShamsi, alongside the Head of Political and Economic Affairs at the UAE Embassy, Saif Bin Thani.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan. Utsev said the Tinubu administration has prioritised agriculture and water resources development as critical sectors for achieving food security, expanding access to clean water, creating jobs and promoting inclusive economic growth.
He noted that Nigeria remains committed to deepening its partnership with the UAE, particularly in water resources management, sanitation services and irrigation infrastructure.
According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is ready to collaborate with the UAE in areas such as technical knowledge exchange, investment opportunities, institutional partnerships and other interventions aimed at improving water management and agricultural productivity.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador AlShamsi said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration on the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) initiative and explore opportunities in ongoing water and energy-related projects.
The ambassador also invited the minister to participate in the upcoming Water Forum scheduled for December, which will be jointly hosted by the UAE and Senegal.
The event is expected to bring together global stakeholders to discuss solutions for improving access to water and sanitation, especially in underserved communities.
AlShamsi commended President Bola Tinubu for fostering stronger bilateral relations between both countries, noting that trade between Nigeria and the UAE has increased significantly in recent years.
He added that the UAE currently accounts for nearly half of Nigeria’s trade with Arab nations.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Emanso Umobong, and senior technical officials.
Both countries pledged to continue working together to advance sustainable water management, irrigation development and shared economic prosperity.
