Environment
THE Federal Government and stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have called for increased investment, stronger coordination and climate-resilient infrastructure to address the impact of climate change on water security and public health.
They made the call at the opening of the 3rd Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference in Abuja on Monday.
It was themed, “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems at the Frontline of Climate Change: Aligning NDC 3.0 with National Adaptation Priorities”.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said climate change had become a major threat to water resources, sanitation services and public health, making resilient WASH systems critical to Nigeria’s adaptation efforts.
Utsev said the climate crisis was fundamentally a water crisis, as floods, droughts, changing rainfall patterns and declining water quality continued to affect access to safe water and sanitation services.
He said the conference provided an opportunity to move from policy discussions to implementation by aligning WASH interventions with Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0).
“Without water security, there can be no climate resilience. Without sanitation, there can be no public health resilience. Without resilient WASH systems, adaptation efforts remain incomplete,” he said.
The minister said the Federal Government was committed to integrating climate resilience into water resources management and WASH service delivery through reforms, investments and partnerships.
He listed priority areas to include strengthening climate-resilient water infrastructure, improving integrated water resources management, expanding climate-smart sanitation, enhancing hydrological monitoring and early warning systems, and mobilising climate finance.
Utsev also emphasised the need for greater community participation, gender inclusion and local ownership in climate adaptation programmes.
He added that the ministry would continue collaborating with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), development partners, academia, state governments, River Basin Development Authorities and civil society organisations to mainstream WASH into national adaptation planning.
Representing the Minister of Environment, Chika Opara said climate change was increasing pressure on water resources, sanitation infrastructure, food security and ecosystems.
Opara said rising cases of flooding, drought, erosion and desertification were threatening community resilience, adding that the ministry remained committed to environmental sanitation, pollution control, integrated waste management and the One Health approach.
The representative of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Maria Yuazake, said climate-resilient WASH programmes would remain a priority in national planning and budgeting through strategic investments and sustainable financing.
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Temi Majekodunmi, represented by Amudi Felistas, said the conference would support the translation of Nigeria’s climate commitments into practical action.
She said climate-resilient WASH interventions would create green jobs, improve livelihoods and strengthen environmental protection while supporting the implementation of NDC 3.0.
Speaking on behalf of WaterAid, Mr Kolawole Banwo commended the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the National Technical Working Group on Climate-Resilient WASH for sustaining the annual platform.
Banwo said effective climate action required a government-led, sector-wide approach involving development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector and the media.
He stressed the need for stronger institutions, reliable data, sustainable financing and improved collaboration to bridge the funding gap for climate-resilient WASH infrastructure.
The National Coordinator of the Network of Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Mr Benson Attah, said WASH must be fully integrated into national planning and financing processes to achieve sustainable climate resilience.
Attah said Nigeria could not build resilience without deliberate investment in adaptive infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events.
He called for innovative financing mechanisms, including stronger private-sector partnerships, to mobilise resources for climate-resilient WASH projects.
“We must move from alignment in principle to alignment in practice. Policies must translate into reinforced boreholes, secure sanitation facilities and community-led management systems that can withstand climate extremes,” he said.
Attah pledged NEWSAN’s continued support and partnership toward ensuring vulnerable communities were not left behind in accessing safe water and sanitation services.
(NAN)
W.U
June 29, 2026
Tags: Prof. Joseph Utsev Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sen. Abubakar Bagudu Temi Majekodunmi