The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on universal access to clean water and sanitation while also strengthening the country’s water, sanitation, hydropower, and food systems.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made this known at the opening ceremony of the 8th International Water Conference, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE), held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital in North-Central Nigeria.
Prof. Utsev highlighted key projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, among which are major dams, irrigation schemes, sanitation and water supply projects across the country.
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He announced significant progress on public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives such as the ongoing 460 MW Katsina-Ala Dam and the 186 MW Bawarku Dam project on the Benue River, in addition to the ongoing occasioning of the Datsin Hausa Dam (Adamawa) and Itisi Dam (Kaduna).
According to Utsev, these projects are designed to boost revenue generation, irrigation, hydropower, sanitation, water supply, tourism, food security, and job creation for Nigerians.
Prof. Utsev also outlined flagship programmes such as the World Bank-supported Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply (SURWASH) Project; the Ministry’s Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene PEWASH programme, which is expanding access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in both urban and rural communities; and the Clean Nigeria Campaign, aimed at eliminating open defecation by 2030.
The minister expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support of the ministry and other MDAs in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended Nigerian engineers and water professionals for their creativity and dedication, stressing that their expertise is critical to sustaining ongoing progress and ensuring equitable access to clean water and sanitation for all Nigerians.
He urged participants to leverage the conference as a platform for sharing innovative ideas, shaping government policies, strengthening partnerships, and reaffirming the fundamental right of every citizen to clean water and sanitation.
Declaring the 8th NIWE International Water Conference open, Prof. Utsev wished all delegates fruitful deliberations and impactful outcomes that will drive Nigeria closer to achieving a water-secure future.
Representing the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Chief of Staff, Moses Atagher, reaffirmed the State Government’s readiness to align with all Federal Government intervention programmes to improve access to safe water resources.
He emphasised that “water is life” and access to it is a fundamental human right, noting that despite challenges posed by climate change, Nigeria can still achieve SDG 6 through innovative thinking, strategic partnerships, environmental resilience, and inclusive, future-focused strategies.
In his welcome address, the National Chairman of NIWE, Engineer Joshua Titus Sanga, expressed appreciation to all delegates and partners, stressing the urgency of innovative solutions to meet Nigeria’s rapidly growing urban water demands. He reaffirmed NIWE’s commitment to supporting government initiatives such as SURWASH, the Clean Nigeria Campaign, and nationwide dam and irrigation projects. He encouraged participants to use the conference as a platform for technical discussions, knowledge sharing, and strategic collaborations to advance sustainable water management nationwide.
The representative of the president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Elizabeth Eterigho, delivered remarks on behalf of Engineer Margaret Aina Oguntala, who commended NIWE for organising the conference. She underscored the pivotal role of engineers in driving innovative, data-driven, and collaborative approaches to urban water management amid rapid urbanisation, climate change, and population growth.
She also highlighted the importance of knowledge transfer and capacity building to empower the next generation of water professionals.
The three-day conference features technical sessions, exhibitions, and panel discussions aimed at sharing best practices, exploring cutting-edge technologies, and strengthening partnerships across the water sector. Participants are expected to develop actionable strategies to accelerate Nigeria’s progress toward universal access to clean water and sanitation, ensuring a water-secure future for all citizens.
The theme for this year’s conference is“Sustainable Urban Water Development and Management in Nigeria”Innovative Solutions Towards Achieving SDG 6.