Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Federal Government and the Niger Basin Authority have called for accelerated implementation of regional development projects, warning that sustainable financing, climate change adaptation and effective management of shared water resources are critical to improving the livelihoods of more than 200 million people across the basin. The call followed a series of regional meetings organised by the NBA in Abuja from September 28 to October 9, 2026, involving representatives of its nine member countries, development partners, technical experts and other stakeholders.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Funmi Imuetinyan, on Saturday, the NBA Executive Secretary, Kocou Houanye, urged member countries to fast-track ongoing projects, complete multipurpose water infrastructure and strengthen institutional governance to ensure that investments deliver lasting benefits. He identified hydrodiplomacy, climate change adaptation, youth and women's participation, and the development of transboundary water infrastructure as essential to sustainable development and regional stability.
Houanye said investments in the water sector were particularly important for young people, noting that more than 80 per cent of jobs across the region were connected to water resources. He stressed the need for investments that would create economic opportunities, improve livelihoods and strengthen communities' resilience to climate-related challenges. The NBA chief also called for urgent action to improve the implementation of the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin, known as PIDACC/NB, which he described as entering a decisive phase. He urged member countries to release counterpart funds, expedite outstanding project requests and complete infrastructure projects awaiting implementation.
Providing an update on the programme, Houanye disclosed that its physical implementation rate rose from 37 per cent at the end of June 2025 to nearly 50 per cent by the end of June 2026. The commitment rate also increased from 49 per cent to nearly 60 per cent within the same period. He said the improvements reflected ongoing institutional reforms and better programme management, although additional efforts were required to complete outstanding projects and consolidate existing achievements. He said the 2027 work plans should prioritise faster project delivery, adequate maintenance arrangements and measures to sustain the benefits of completed infrastructure ahead of the programme's closure.
The figures released by the NBA also revealed that approximately 16,000 hectares of degraded land had been restored, while more than 100 multipurpose water infrastructure projects had either been completed or were under construction across the basin. The Niger Basin serves more than 200 million people across nine countries and possesses enormous development potential, including nearly five million hectares of land suitable for hydro-agricultural development. It also has an estimated 200 billion cubic metres of water that could be mobilised and sustainably utilised to strengthen water, energy and food security.
Houanye further called on the countries concerned to sign the Framework Agreement on the Common Basket Fund by November 15, 2026, and speed up documentation required to access available resources from the Global Environment Facility, with access expected to begin in November. He also highlighted institutional reforms, including the adoption of the NBA Strategic Plan and Operational Plan for 2026 to 2030, revised administrative, financial and procurement procedures, and measures to improve staffing and operational efficiency. He added that the authority was modernising and digitalising its water and environmental information systems to strengthen planning, monitoring and management of resources across the basin.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that efforts were also underway to operationalise the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Fund for the Niger Basin from early 2027, as part of measures to secure more sustainable financing for the authority's activities. He explained that the proposed fund would allow member states to pool domestic resources and leverage them to finance projects aimed at protecting ecosystems, improving livelihoods and strengthening food, water and energy security. He stressed that the region had significant domestic resources that could be leveraged to reduce dependence on external funding, noting that the proposed financing mechanism would also create opportunities for employment, particularly for young people across the basin. He reaffirmed the NBA's commitment to strengthening partnerships with the African Development Bank Group, the European Union, the World Bank Group, climate finance institutions, the private sector and the research community. He also highlighted plans to deepen cooperation with the Lake Chad Basin Commission to improve coordination on shared environmental and water management challenges.
Earlier, Robert Umezulike, representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, commended the NBA, member countries and development partners for their contributions to the meetings. Umezulike said the engagements provided an opportunity to share experiences and address challenges affecting PIDACC/NB sub-projects and infrastructure delivery. He urged participants to apply the recommendations, stressing that effective project implementation, regional cooperation and proper maintenance of completed infrastructure were essential to improving livelihoods across the basin. He noted that the Niger Basin, which is a shared geographical space and a common heritage of member states, remains a critical source of livelihood and an important foundation for the water, food and energy security of millions of people. He stressed that while the ambition for the basin was clear, the major challenge was determining how to finance regional priorities in a manner that is realistic, sustainable and responsive to the circumstances of member states.
The meetings focused on hydrodiplomacy, gender inclusion, water security, climate adaptation, infrastructure development and programme implementation. The NBA's call for faster delivery comes as the programme enters its final 15 months, with several major activities yet to be completed. The authority is preparing for the next phase of regional development following the completion of PIDACC/NB, with a greater focus on strategic water infrastructure to strengthen water security, enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems, and support sustainable development across the basin. The coming months will determine whether the NBA and its member states can translate the commitments made in Abuja into the infrastructure and financing arrangements needed to secure the basin's future.
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