By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has called for the integration of water security into Nigeria’s national security architecture, warning that water insecurity, flooding, drought and inadequate sanitation could fuel public health emergencies, displacement, resource-based conflicts and economic instability.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made the call on Monday while delivering a lecture titled, “Water Resources Management and Sanitation as Catalysts for Sustainable National Development and Security in Nigeria,” at the National Defence College, Abuja.
Utsev said Nigeria must move beyond treating water as merely a development concern and recognise it as a strategic national security priority, stressing that access to safe water and sanitation is fundamental to public health, food security, economic stability and national resilience.
He noted that water insecurity, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and climate variability could intensify competition among water users, undermine livelihoods and increase vulnerability to climate-related shocks.
The Minister also highlighted the role of the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in promoting irrigation, agriculture, fisheries, rural water supply, flood control, job creation, agro-processing and rural economic development.
On food security, Utsev said irrigation development was critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns.
He disclosed that about 154,000 hectares of irrigable land are currently benefiting more than 1.6 million farmers, with efforts ongoing to expand irrigation coverage across the country.
The Minister further raised concerns over the security implications of climate-induced flooding and drought, revealing that the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook identified 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory as high flood-risk areas.
He therefore advocated stronger coordination among government institutions, particularly those responsible for water, agriculture, health, environment and security, alongside increased investment, effective regulation, reliable water intelligence, climate-resilient infrastructure and greater community participation.
Utsev disclosed that the Ministry was developing the National Water Compact 2026–2030 to harmonise Nigeria’s water and sanitation policies and interventions.
According to him, the Compact is anchored on three strategic pillars—Water for People, Water for Food and Water for the Planet—covering safe water and sanitation, irrigation and food security, as well as climate resilience and sustainable water resources management.
He said the Compact was being developed through a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach involving federal and sub-national governments, security agencies, RBDAs, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and communities.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of water diplomacy and transboundary cooperation, noting that Nigeria shares major water resources with neighbouring countries and must strengthen regional collaboration to promote stability, economic growth and sustainable development.
Utsev identified five strategic priorities for strengthening Nigeria’s water security: integrating water security into national security planning; strengthening whole-of-government coordination; increasing strategic investment and sustainable financing; building climate resilience and national water intelligence; and developing the capacity of women and youths.
He stressed that protecting water resources, expanding access to safe water and sanitation, strengthening irrigation and improving preparedness for floods and droughts were essential to securing Nigeria’s future.
Responding to the lecture, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, commended Utsev for the presentation, saying it demonstrated that water security remains central to national security.
Ahmed identified flooding, drought and resource-based conflicts as major security concerns and called for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s freshwater resources, as well as stronger international cooperation in managing shared water systems.
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The Minister was accompanied by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Dallah Ali Ibrahim, FNSE; Director, Water Supply and Support Services, Mr. Babarinde Segun Mukaila; and Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Mr. Habu Jemilu, mni.
The lecture was attended by the full complement of the faculty of the National Defence College.
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