The World Bank has signalled its readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, with a renewed focus on large-scale, transformational interventions aimed at strengthening the country’s water sector.
This development emerged during recent high-level meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, and the World Bank’s Head of Disaster Risk Management, Mr. Francis Nkoka, where both parties explored strategies to expand existing cooperation into broader, high-impact initiatives.
Discussions at the meeting centred on building a more robust partnership framework that will support the implementation of large-scale projects beyond current interventions, targeting critical areas such as water infrastructure, climate adaptation, disaster risk management, irrigation, and sustainable water supply systems.
Also present at the engagement was the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, who joined in identifying opportunities for enhanced collaboration, increased investment, and improved resilience in water resource management.
Both sides emphasised the importance of leveraging reliable hydrological data to drive evidence-based planning and decision-making, noting that effective water management is essential to Nigeria’s long-term development goals.
The initiative forms part of the World Bank’s broader strategy to expand its engagement with Nigeria, shifting from smaller, project-based interventions to more comprehensive structural and economic programmes. The new approach prioritises large-scale infrastructure development, job creation, private sector investment, and economic revitalisation, with water security positioned as a key pillar.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Nkoka reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to scaling up its impact in Nigeria.
“The World Bank is ready to move beyond traditional project-level interventions in Nigeria. We want to support broader structural initiatives that drive long-term sustainability, climate resilience, and economic growth. Nigeria’s water security is central to its national development, and our expanded partnership will reflect that scale,” he said.
The renewed collaboration aligns with ongoing Federal Government efforts to transform the water sector through key programmes such as the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Project, the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, and the development of Strategic Catchment Management Plans.
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In his remarks, Utsev expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s continued support, describing the partnership as a major step toward addressing Nigeria’s water and sanitation challenges.
“This collaboration marks a critical milestone as we look to scale up our interventions. We are fully committed to deepening this cooperation to deliver impactful projects that will boost agricultural productivity, strengthen water security, and protect communities from climate-related risks,” the minister said.
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