ABUJA – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems, declaring them critical to Nigeria’s climate adaptation, public health, water security and sustainable development.
Declaring open the 2026 Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said resilient WASH systems are essential for achieving food security, economic growth and protecting communities from the devastating effects of climate change.
Utsev stressed that Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) provides a strategic opportunity to place WASH at the centre of the country’s climate adaptation agenda.
The conference, themed “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems at the Frontline of Climate Change: Aligning NDC 3.0 with National Adaptation Priorities,” was organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation through the Department of Hydrology in collaboration with development partners, including WaterAid, UNICEF and the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding climate-resilient water infrastructure, promoting integrated water resources management, climate-smart sanitation, early warning systems, increased climate financing and inclusive community participation.
Describing climate change as a growing threat to the WASH sector, Utsev declared that “the climate crisis is fundamentally a water crisis,” urging stakeholders to move beyond discussions and develop practical solutions that will accelerate the integration of WASH into Nigeria’s climate adaptation framework.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support in enabling the ministry to deliver on its mandate, while commending development partners, including WaterAid, UNICEF, the World Bank-supported SURWASH Programme, and the National Technical Working Group on Climate-Resilient WASH, for their sustained collaboration.
Earlier, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, welcomed participants and praised their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s climate resilience agenda through improved WASH services.
Dallah noted that climate change remains one of the greatest global challenges and called for stronger collaboration, sustainable financing and innovative strategies to build resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems nationwide.
The conference featured technical presentations by climate experts and academics, panel discussions, plenary sessions and group presentations focused on practical recommendations for integrating climate-resilient WASH into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan and the implementation of NDC 3.0.
