Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Federal Government has urged participating states to hasten the completion of projects under the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project, following the extension of the programme's funding timeline by the French Development Agency from December 2026 to 2028, warning that the additional time must be used effectively to deliver tangible improvements in urban water supply.
The call was made on Monday by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the opening of the 2nd Semester 2026 National Urban Water Sector Reform Project Coordination and Review Workshop in Jos, the Plateau State capital. Utsev, who was represented by the project's National Coordinator, Mr Kasim Nafiu, commended the AFD for extending the project and said the extension would provide additional time for states to complete ongoing rehabilitation works and address implementation challenges. "The extension will enable participating states to complete their various ongoing rehabilitation projects under the programme," Utsev said. "It will also provide additional time for states to address implementation challenges and ensure the completion of projects aimed at improving urban water supply."
The two-day workshop, themed "Improving Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery," brought together policymakers, water sector professionals, engineers, project managers, development partners and other stakeholders to review the implementation of the reform project. Utsev said the workshop would provide an avenue for participating states to undertake an empirical review of project implementation, deliberate on their experiences, identify challenges and proffer solutions to achieve the objectives of the project. He urged participating states and other stakeholders to utilise the extended period effectively to ensure that the objectives of the programme were achieved.
The National Urban Water Sector Reform Project is co-financed by the AFD alongside other development partners to improve urban drinking water quality, expand supply networks and strengthen the financial independence of state water utilities. The French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, has disclosed that the AFD had committed over 300 million euros to water investments across seven Nigerian states in the past decade. He said water investments go beyond infrastructure, improving health outcomes, reducing burdens on women and children, and supporting economic activity. He also noted that water security challenges were now global, driven by climate change and rising demand.
Declaring the workshop open, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said his administration considers water security a fundamental pillar of modern governance and human development. Mutfwang, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, noted his administration's commitment to strengthening the institutions, infrastructure and systems required to expand access to potable water across the state. He disclosed that the state government had injected N2.6 billion as counterpart funding for the project. "This commitment demonstrates government's determination to ensure that development interventions translate into tangible improvements in the lives of its citizens," Mutfwang said.
The governor said the state, through the Jos Water Services Corporation and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, was implementing interventions to improve water production, treatment and distribution. He listed the interventions to include the expansion of municipal reticulation networks, rehabilitation of the Yelwa Water Treatment Plant and reticulation of the Mangu Regional Water Scheme. He also mentioned the rehabilitation and construction of water infrastructure in Bokkos, Langtang North, Langtang South and Wase. Mutfwang said the state was also rehabilitating two major water treatment facilities, the Yakubu Gowon Water Treatment Plant and the Laminga Water Treatment Plant, with support from AFD. "Similarly, we are carrying out rehabilitation and construction of water infrastructure in Bokkos, Langtang North, Langtang South and Wase," he said. "We are also rehabilitating two major water treatment facilities, the Yakubu Gowon Water Treatment Plant and the Laminga Water Treatment Plant, with support from AFD."
Mutfwang urged participants to critically examine project performance, identify bottlenecks and develop practical strategies for accelerating project delivery. He also appealed to the AFD to further simplify administrative processes and expedite the issuance of "No Objection" approvals for deserving project components. "Timely approvals are critical to enabling states to meet implementation deadlines, minimise avoidable delays and sustain the momentum of project delivery," the governor said. He expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and development partners, particularly AFD, for their continued technical and financial support.
The minister's call comes amid persistent challenges in Nigeria's urban water supply sector. According to data presented at a workshop on urban water supply sector reform in June 2026, about 30 per cent of Nigerians still lack access to basic water services, while 56 per cent lack basic sanitation. Many urban households continue to depend on boreholes, water vendors and tanker services, which are often costly, unreliable and unsafe. The Development Partner Group for the Water and Sanitation Sector, which includes the AFD, the African Development Bank, UNICEF, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, WaterAid and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has called for stronger collaboration and increased investment to address these challenges.
The government has also moved to consolidate its fragmented water policies and interventions into a new National Water Compact. In August 2026, the Federal Government initiated nationwide consultations to build a unified framework, engaging the Nigeria Governors' Forum to secure buy-in across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The National Water Compact is intended to drive reforms in Nigeria's water sector through improved policies, stronger institutions, increased investment and sustainable water resources management. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has developed the first draft of the compact, which is expected to provide a framework for addressing water, sanitation and irrigation challenges from 2026 to 2030.
Beyond the urban water reform project, the Federal Government has continued to implement water supply interventions across the country. In May 2025, the government commissioned the Gashua Water Supply Scheme in Yobe State, with a capacity of 3,200 million litres per day, completed at a revised total cost of ₦5,735,046,416.75 and expected to serve over one million residents. Other ongoing projects include the Damaturu Lots A & B Water Supply Projects, the Nguru Water Supply Project, the Fika/Gadaka Water Supply Project and the Potiskum Water Supply Project, all in Yobe State. In Jigawa State, the government commenced construction of the N59.46 billion Greater Dutse Water Supply Project in 2026. In Lagos, the 140-million-gallons-per-day Adiyan Water Project is expected to be completed in 2026.
For the participating states, the AFD extension represents both an opportunity and a test. The additional two years provide breathing room to address the implementation challenges that have slowed progress, but they also place a premium on efficient project management, timely counterpart funding and the resolution of administrative bottlenecks. Plateau State has demonstrated its commitment with N2.6 billion in counterpart funding, but the governor's appeal for expedited "No Objection" approvals suggests that procedural delays remain a significant constraint. As Utsev put it, the extension will enable states to complete their ongoing rehabilitation projects and ensure the completion of projects aimed at improving urban water supply. Whether states rise to the occasion will be determined by the progress recorded between now and 2028, and by whether the taps they are rehabilitating finally deliver the safe, reliable water that millions of Nigerians still lack.
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