Reported by: Agande Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the successful implementation of the World Bank-supported Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, emphasizing the need for stronger coordination, adequate funding, and active stakeholder engagement.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, made the declaration on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, during his keynote address at the 4th Federal Steering Committee (FSC) Meeting of the SURWASH Programme held in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev commended members of the Federal Steering Committee for their continued commitment to the programme and reaffirmed the administration’s alignment of SURWASH objectives with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable national development.
“The SURWASH Programme directly supports our efforts to expand access to clean water, improve sanitation, and enhance public health outcomes across the country,” Prof. Utsev stated. “Through collective commitment and coordination, we will deliver tangible results that uplift communities and improve livelihoods.”
Highlighting progress recorded under the initiative, the Minister noted key achievements, including the provision of water supply systems, rehabilitation of sanitation facilities, and installation of complete WASH infrastructure in health centres and schools across participating states.
He added that the Year 4 Independent Verification Agent (IVA) Report and the forthcoming second verification cycle would further enhance performance assessment and boost state-level disbursements.
Providing an update on the ongoing Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Programme Restructuring, Prof. Utsev explained that the first phase, concluded in February 2025, realigned the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) to strengthen accountability and improve fund flow mechanisms. The second phase, currently in progress, focuses on financial reallocation, rate adjustments, and the onboarding of ten additional states—raising the total number of participating states to seventeen.
The Minister urged state governments to finalize their budgets and work plans promptly to prevent implementation delays and ensure effective coordination between federal and state Programme Coordination Units (PCUs).
“Let us continue to collaborate and push forward the implementation of SURWASH. With effective coordination and commitment, we will achieve the programme’s objectives and deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Prof. Utsev appealed.
He also expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its ongoing technical and financial support, as well as to the Federal Executive Council, state commissioners, and programme coordinators for their dedication to ensuring the success of the initiative.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Water Supply, Mr. Mukaila Segun Babarinde, urged commissioners to intensify advocacy and sensitize their colleagues on the benefits of active participation in the SURWASH Programme.
The National Coordinator, Engr. Abdulhamid Gwaram, provided a performance update, describing the programme as “strong in institutional strengthening and moderate in service delivery.” He explained that while the Program-for-Results (PforR) model was relatively new and presented initial challenges, participating states had shown growing commitment and improved understanding of the process.
“The better the states perform, the more support they will receive to expand services,” Engr. Gwaram stated, encouraging continued dedication and collaboration to sustain progress.
Present at the meeting were state commissioners, representatives of relevant ministries, World Bank officials, and other key stakeholders in the water resources sector. The initial participating states include Delta, Gombe, Imo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau.
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