Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has convened a high-level Western African Sub-Regional Ministerial and Technical Advisory Committee consultation aimed at developing the first implementation plan (2026–2033) of the Africa Water Vision 2063.
The three-day consultation, which began on April 21 in Abuja, is bringing together ministers, technical experts, and development partners to address mounting challenges facing Africa’s water resources and to outline strategic priorities for sustainable water management across the continent.
Declaring the meeting open, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and Vice President (West Africa) of the African Ministerial Council on Water, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, described Nigeria as privileged to host the strategic engagement. He noted that the country’s role as host of the AMCOW Secretariat underscores its commitment to advancing Africa’s water and sanitation agenda.
Utsev reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening water security, sanitation, and climate resilience, emphasizing that the Africa Water Vision 2063 provides a transformative roadmap aligned with the Agenda 2063.
He commended the African Union Commission and AMCOW for the successful launch of the policy at the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, describing it as a landmark step toward positioning water and sanitation as central to Africa’s long-term development.
The minister highlighted growing pressures on water resources driven by rapid urbanization, climate variability, and increasing demand, stressing the need for coordinated regional responses to address gaps in access to safe water and sanitation services.
According to him, the consultation is expected to define regional priorities and measurable targets, develop harmonized policy and financing frameworks, identify transformative investment opportunities, and strengthen monitoring and accountability systems.
Utsev also outlined Nigeria’s ongoing interventions in the sector, including the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), the Clean Nigeria Campaign, and the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project.
In his welcome remarks, Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee, Segun Mukaila Babarinde, described the consultation as a crucial step toward translating policy into actionable programmes. He urged participants to leverage technical expertise and regional collaboration to produce a practical and inclusive implementation roadmap.
Also speaking, Nyambe Nyambe of the African Union Commission underscored the urgency of addressing emerging challenges such as informal settlements, pollution, and water-related conflicts, calling the consultation a pivotal moment for Africa’s water future.
Representing the Economic Community of West African States, Kouassi Alexis reaffirmed the region’s commitment to the implementation of the Vision, noting ongoing efforts to update ECOWAS’ 2008 water policy and plans for a regional water forum in Abidjan.
Meanwhile, AMCOW official Nelson Gomonda described the designation of water and sanitation as the African Union’s Theme for 2026 as historic, urging member states to develop national implementation plans to ensure ownership and accountability.
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The consultation, convened by AMCOW in collaboration with the Nigerian government, will run until April 23, with deliberations focusing on policy alignment, stakeholder engagement, and investment strategies.
Outcomes from the meeting are expected to shape regional and continental policy directions and guide investments toward achieving water security, climate resilience, and universal access to sanitation across Africa.
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