The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders to unlock private sector investment and accelerate reforms aimed at improving urban sanitation and expanding access to safe water across Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Urban Sanitation Sector Diagnostic Report and the African Water Investment Programme in Abuja, the Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation Prof Joseph Utsev, represented by the director overseeing the office of the permanent secretary / director, Dams and Reservoir operations of the ministry, Ali Ibrahim Dallah, described the report as a strategic roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s urban sanitation sector.
The minister said the report comes at a critical period when the federal government is intensifying efforts to improve sanitation service, strengthen sector governance and mobilise both public and private investment to bridge the nation’s sanitation infrastructure gap.
Utsev commended the AfDB and the African water facility for their sustained partnership in supporting the Nigerian water and sanitation sector, noting that achieving universal access to safety managed sanitation services requires innovative financing, stronger institutions and active private sector participation.
The minister stated that sanitation is not only a social service but also a catalyst for national development, adding that improved sanitation contributes significantly to better health outcomes, environmental sustainability, increased productivity and job creation.