By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has inaugurated the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) on Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Systems to strengthen the long-term functionality of rural water infrastructure across Nigeria.
The initiative, launched at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja, brings together key stakeholders to provide strategic guidance, share best practices, and develop practical solutions to ensure reliable access to clean water in rural communities.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Richard Phellangwah, highlighted the significance of the group, stressing that sustainable rural water supply is critical to national development and a basic human right.
Phellangwah called for strong collaboration among government bodies, development partners, private sector actors, and communities to address ongoing challenges in maintaining rural water systems.
He commended partners such as UNICEF, WaterAid, and Self-Help Africa for their ongoing support, urging the group to promote innovation, policy alignment, and shared responsibility in achieving universal access to safe water.
Chairman of the Working Group and Director of Water Supply, Mr. Babarinde Mukaila, assured that the NTWG would harmonize national efforts, promote financial sustainability, strengthen institutional capacity, and enhance water quality and service delivery in line with Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commitments.
Representatives from international development agencies, NGOs, and civil society—including the World Bank, WaterAid, NEWSAN, and Tulsi Chanrai Foundation—delivered goodwill messages reinforcing the importance of collective action and community involvement in ensuring water sustainability.
The committee is also to coordinate strategy, planning, and implementation of maintenance operations, with members actively contributing to decisions and field execution.
The group includes representatives from national and international institutions working in Nigeria’s WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector.
