The Federal Government on Monday called for increased climate financing to strengthen Nigeria’s water, sanitation and hygiene systems.
- +FG seeks stronger climate financing to enhance water, sanitation services
It emphasised that greater investment is critical to protecting communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
It emphasised that greater investment is critical to protecting communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
The call came as the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, declared open the 2026 Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference in Abuja, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating climate-resilient WASH systems into Nigeria’s climate adaptation agenda.
Utsev said resilient water and sanitation systems are indispensable to achieving water security, safeguarding public health, improving food security and sustaining economic growth, stressing that Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) presents an opportunity to make WASH a central pillar of the country’s climate response.
“The climate crisis is fundamentally a water crisis,” the minister said, noting that climate change is placing increasing pressure on water resources and sanitation infrastructure across the country.
He said the ministry remains committed to expanding climate-resilient water infrastructure, promoting integrated water resources management, advancing climate-smart sanitation, strengthening early warning systems, increasing climate finance and ensuring inclusive community participation.
The minister urged participants to move beyond discussions by producing practical recommendations that would accelerate the integration of WASH into Nigeria’s climate adaptation framework.
He stated, “Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) provides a strategic opportunity to position WASH at the centre of the country’s climate adaptation agenda.”
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for reforms in the water sector, saying the administration’s backing has enabled the ministry to pursue critical interventions aimed at improving access to safe water and sanitation.
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 its Department of Hydrology in partnership with WaterAid, UNICEF and the World Bank-supported SURWASH Programme.
Earlier, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ali Ibrahim Dallah, described climate change as one of the greatest challenges facing the country and called for stronger coordination, sustainable financing and innovative approaches to building resilient WASH systems.
Other speakers, including representatives of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Budget and Economic Planning, the National Council on Climate Change, WaterAid, UNICEF and the NEWSAN, also stressed the need for stronger partnerships, effective planning and increased investment to integrate WASH into Nigeria’s climate policies and protect vulnerable communities from climate-related risks.
The conference attracted state commissioners for water resources, government officials, development partners, climate experts, researchers, civil society organisations, academics and private sector stakeholders, with discussions focusing on practical strategies for mainstreaming climate-resilient WASH into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Planning process and the implementation of NDC 3.0.
Climate change is increasingly disrupting access to safe water and sanitation in Nigeria through recurrent flooding, prolonged droughts, desertification and changing rainfall patterns.
These challenges have damaged water infrastructure, contaminated water sources and heightened the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly in vulnerable rural and urban communities.
Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution, submitted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, outlines the country’s commitments to strengthening climate adaptation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Experts have consistently argued that achieving these goals will require significantly higher climate finance to expand resilient water infrastructure, improve sanitation services and ensure communities can better withstand the effects of climate change.
The conference therefore comes as Nigeria seeks to mobilise greater domestic and international financing to implement its climate commitments while advancing progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation.
