The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to scale up access to water, sanitation, and food security infrastructure across Nigeria.
This reaffirmation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes infrastructure development through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The Minister made the statement during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, and his team to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a press statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director of Information and Public Relations, Prof. Utsev emphasized that enhanced collaboration with the ICRC is crucial for mobilizing private sector investments in key sectors. “Our partnership must be sustained to fast-track access to safe water, improved sanitation, and increased food production,” he stated. “We are especially focused on leveraging PPP models through the River Basin Development Authorities.”
The Minister also highlighted the Federal Government’s National Campaign to End Open Defecation (ODF), stressing that a clean and healthy environment is vital for attracting investment and improving public health outcomes.
He revealed that President Tinubu has directed the Ministry to conduct comprehensive assessments of all dams nationwide to evaluate their integrity and determine their viability for water supply, irrigation, flood control, and hydropower generation.
“These integrity tests are essential to unlocking the full economic potential of our dam infrastructure and advancing national development goals,” he added.
In his remarks, Dr. Ewalefoh commended the Ministry’s leadership in driving transformative infrastructure projects in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6.
He underscored the role of PPPs in delivering transparent, impactful, and bankable initiatives, citing key projects such as the Dasin-Hausa Dam, Farin Ruwa, Manya, Bawarku, Grand Katsina-Ala, Kashimbila Airport, and the Gurara II Dam.
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Dr. Ewalefoh proposed deepened collaboration in expanding rural water infrastructure, rehabilitating aging dams, enhancing sanitation systems, and scaling hydropower generation. He also advocated for innovative PPP-driven frameworks, including a National Sanitation Framework, desalination projects, bulk water supply schemes, and smart water utility models.
He concluded by inviting the leadership of the River Basin Development Authorities to participate in the upcoming PPP National Summit, scheduled for June 14, 2025, as a platform to strengthen partnerships and attract investment into Nigeria’s water and sanitation sectors.
