ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other stakeholders have called for increased private sector investment to transform Nigeria’s urban sanitation sector and expand access to safe water across the country.
The call was made on Tuesday during the launch of the Nigeria Urban Sanitation Sector Diagnostic Report and the Africa Water Investment Programme, where stakeholders highlighted the need for innovative financing and stronger partnerships to address sanitation infrastructure gaps.
Representing the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary and Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, described the report as a strategic roadmap for improving Nigeria’s urban sanitation landscape.
Utsev said the initiative comes at a crucial time as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to strengthen sanitation services, improve sector governance, and attract both public and private investments.
He commended the African Development Bank and the African Water Facility for their continued support to Nigeria’s water and sanitation sector, stressing that achieving universal access to safely managed sanitation services requires innovative financing, effective institutions, and active participation from the private sector.
“The Federal Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment that encourages investment, strengthens institutional capacity, and promotes sustainable sanitation solutions capable of improving public health, protecting the environment, and driving economic growth,” he said.
The Minister noted that sanitation goes beyond being a social service, describing it as a key driver of national development through improved health outcomes, environmental protection, increased productivity, and job creation.
Speaking at the event, the Lead Operations Manager of the AfDB Nigeria Country Department, Mr. Orison Amu, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to achieve universal access to safe water and sanitation.
Amu described the Diagnostic Report as an important tool for guiding reforms and investment decisions, noting that effective implementation of its recommendations will be critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation by 2030.
Also speaking, the Division Manager, AHWS.1, AfDB, Mrs. Jeanne-Astrid Ngako De Foki, described urban sanitation as a national priority requiring increased investment, innovative funding models, and stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, private investors, and communities.
Stakeholders agreed that unlocking private sector participation will be essential to closing Nigeria’s sanitation financing gap and delivering sustainable water and sanitation solutions for millions of citizens.
