FG To Develop National Water Compact Roadmap 2026-2030

The Federal Government has said that it is developing a National Water Compact for 2026-2030 to guide policy formation and implementation for improved water supply and sanitation across the country.

This disclosure was made by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev in Abuja on Monday when he spoke at the National Defence College.

Utsev, who delivered a lecture titled “Water Resources Management and Sanitation as Catalysts for Sustainable National Development and Security in Nigeria” said that the present administration was working to ensure the achievement of water security in Nigeria.

The Minister noted that the Compact is built around three strategic pillars, Water for People, Water for Food and Water for the Planet, focusing respectively on safe water and sanitation, irrigation and food security, and climate resilience and sustainable water resources management.

He explained that “ the Compact is being developed through a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach involving the Federal and sub-national governments, security agencies, River Basin Development Authorities, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and communities”.

According to the Minister, “ Nigeria must move beyond viewing water as merely a development issue and recognise it as a strategic national security priority.

He further stressed, “ that water insecurity, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, flooding, drought and climate variability could trigger public health emergencies, displacement and resource-based crises, intensify competition among water users, undermine livelihoods and increase vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, commended the Minister clearly establishing that water security remains key to national security.

The Commandant identified flooding, drought and resource-based conflicts as major security concerns and called for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s abundant freshwater resources, as well as stronger international cooperation in managing shared water systems.