The Federal Government has called on Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take greater ownership of the Nigeria National Water Compact 2026–2030, describing their participation as critical to strengthening the country’s water security.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a nationwide stakeholders’ consultation workshop on the draft Compact. He said water was central to public health, food security, agriculture, industrial development, environmental sustainability and national security.
He said the Compact was designed as a practical roadmap for addressing challenges including rapid population growth, urbanisation, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure and limited financing. He explained that the document was structured around three pillars: Water for People, Water for Food Security and Water for Planet.
The minister stressed that the Compact should be regarded as a national instrument rather than a document belonging solely to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. He urged states and other stakeholders to review the draft and make recommendations that reflected their respective needs and capacities.
Utsev said President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the progress of the Compact, while efforts were ongoing to secure the commitment of state governors to its implementation. He said stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, development partners and other stakeholders would be essential to improving water supply, sanitation and overall water security across Nigeria.
