Federal Government Reports Major Milestones in Water Resources and Sanitation Sector

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

TheFederal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has recorded significant achievements in the areas of water supply, irrigation, sanitation, flood control, and hydropower development, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. This was disclosed during a ministerial press briefing held in Abuja, where the Minister provided an overview of the Ministry’s progress from 2023 to date.

Established in 1976, the Ministry is mandated to develop and implement policies and programmes that ensure sustainable access to safe and sufficient water for Nigeria’s socio-economic needs. According to the Minister, its vision is to provide water for cultural, social, and economic development, while its mission is to drive integrated water resource management across the country.

Since 2023, the Ministry has aligned its efforts with Presidential Priority 3 – boosting agriculture to achieve food security – through a series of initiatives. These include rehabilitation of dams, construction of irrigation projects, and the establishment of a National Potable Water Supply Initiative in partnership with states and local governments. It is also implementing flood and drought risk alert systems and leasing land to commercial farmers through River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs).

In the area of infrastructure, the Ministry completed three major dam projects: Rafin Yashin Multipurpose Dam in Niger State, Odo-Ape Hydropower Dam in Kogi State, and Amla Otukpo Dam in Benue State. Under public-private partnership arrangements, the 40MW Kashimbilla Hydropower Plant in Taraba State and the Kashimbilla Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport were concessioned, generating over ₦7.1 billion in commencement fees for the federal government. Two additional hydropower projects in Benue and Nasarawa States are currently undergoing PPP concession processes.

For irrigation and drainage, four major projects have been completed, including the Bakalori Irrigation Project in Zamfara and the Dadin-Kowa Project in Gombe, which collectively cover over 11,000 hectares of farmland. Micro irrigation systems were also implemented in Oyo and Jigawa States, providing solar-powered infrastructure and greenhouse facilities to local communities.

On water supply, four completed projects were commissioned, serving communities in Jigawa, Yobe, and the FCT. The Gashua Water Supply Project, with a capacity of 3,200 million litres per day, now serves over one million residents in Yobe State. Potiskum and Kubwa also benefited from sustainable water solutions.

In collaboration with state governments and development partners, 565 water supply schemes were constructed, reaching more than 450,000 people. Under the PEWASH initiative, 392 solar-powered schemes were deployed. The Sustainable Urban and Rural WASH (SURWASH) programme added 165 schemes, while the African Development Bank-supported programme delivered 71.

Sanitation efforts have gained ground through the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, with 40 more local government areas achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, bringing the total to 142. Sensitization jingles in five languages now reach over 25 million Nigerians, while 159 sanitation facilities were constructed in 23 states and an additional 38 are underway in 15 others.

Ongoing projects include the reconstruction of Alau Dam, flagged off in March 2025, with expanded components for irrigation and hydropower. Study and design work is ongoing for dams in Benue, Nasarawa, Oyo, and Bauchi States. Fourteen other dams, including Mangu and Ogbese, are nearing completion.

Five irrigation projects across Sokoto, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Adamawa States are at advanced stages, along with eight drip/micro irrigation systems in other locations. The Ministry is also implementing the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project with 20 states already participating.

In 2024, 113 contracts for water supply schemes were awarded nationwide, and four major projects in Jigawa and Benue States are underway. These include the Greater Dutse Water Supply Project and the rehabilitation of the Buruku/Gboko supply network.

RBDAs have also scaled up their contributions to food security and job creation, with 395,624 hectares of land under management. Of this, 154,000 hectares have irrigation infrastructure, benefiting over 1.6 million farmers. A total of 4,429 hectares have been leased to commercial farmers, and mechanized equipment has been provided to some RBDAs. The Ministry is currently pursuing a commercialization programme to attract private sector investment and make the RBDAs self-sustaining.

The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) has issued 24 licenses for water use since 2023, generating ₦104.64 million in revenue. The National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), a UNESCO Category II Centre, continues to train students and water sector professionals, having graduated 72 master’s and 166 postgraduate diploma students in Integrated Water Resource Management.

Other key achievements include bathymetric surveys of 12 dams, the development of codes of practice for well construction, and experimentation with non-native crops. The NWRI also completed a national drinking water quality assessment in two states and trained over 1,300 young people in water-related vocational skills.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) published three editions of the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) from 2023 to 2025, identifying 1,249 communities across 30 states at risk of flooding this year. The agency established four Automatic Weather Observation Stations in Adamawa, Kogi, Benue, and Niger States to improve early warning capabilities.

In April 2025, the federal government launched the National Flood Insurance Programme (NFIP), designed to provide financial protection for households, farmers, and livestock owners affected by climate-induced floods. NIHSA is also providing technical guidance under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative.

Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to commission at least 11 projects in 2025 and roll out sanitation improvements in schools and health centres. It aims to boost the Clean Nigeria Campaign by involving the private sector and strengthen the capacity of local WASH officials.

Additional plans include flood risk assessments along the Niger and Benue rivers, construction of hydraulic structures for flood protection and irrigation, and the development of a national framework for flood insurance to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and public funds.

In concluding the briefing, the Ministry expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support and reaffirmed its commitment to improving the water and sanitation sector for all Nigerians.