African governments have been urged to develop new approaches that will attract appropriate financial resources to the continent’s water and sanitation sector.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, made the call while declaring open the West African Sub-Regional Ministerial Meeting on Post-2025 African Water Vision in Abuja.
Professor Utsev maintained that for the continent to meet its desired goals, there was a need for a change in approach.
The Minister represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwa said he was worried that despite all efforts by African countries, the continent was still off track in realizing its Vision of an equitable society.
The Minister explained that the ministry, in line with presidential priorities and quest for the attainment of the sustainable Development Goals, introduced numerous programmes that have started yielding positive results.
According to Utsev, the report revealed that financing for the water and sanitation sector is inadequate, with heavy reliance on Official Development Assistance (ODA), making sustainable funding difficult.
He further noted that 800 million people in Africa lacked access to safely managed sanitation services, while over 400 million people lacked access to safely managed drinking water.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening water security, improving sanitation and hygiene, and enhancing food security.
He outlined several key projects being implemented by his ministry to improve livelihoods, promote sustainable water management, and maximise socio-economic development.
Utsev also announced plans for a National WASH Policy, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders, to align Nigeria’s water and sanitation efforts with global standards.
The minister commended AMCOW, the AU Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for leading the development of the post-2025 Africa Water Vision and Policy.
He urged stakeholders to align the new framework with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063, ensuring regional cooperation and better access to funding.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the African Ministers’ Council on Water, AMCOW, Rasheed Mbaziira, identified financing as one of the critical areas the meeting seeks to address.
He noted that the initial vision, established in 2000, aimed for equitable water resource utilisation to drive development, reduce poverty, and protect the environment.
Earlier, the Director Water Development and irrigation Department of the African Development Bank, Mtchera Chirwa was of the opinion that with robust collaboration and partnership, Africa could create a future where every African has access to safe, reliable, and affordable water and sanitation services.
Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Blessing Nyor
