Nigeria and the African Union (AU) are stepping up efforts to improve access to safe water and sanitation across the continent following a high-level engagement with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) in Abuja.
According to Punch Newspapers, officials from the AU Commission and AMCOW, led by Harsen Nyambe and Nelson Gomonda, met with Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, to strengthen collaboration on water governance, policy alignment, and implementation of continental frameworks aimed at closing water access gaps.
The meeting focused on advancing the Africa Water Vision 2063 and developing the 2026–2033 implementation plan, with the goal of translating policy commitments into practical initiatives that will bring safe drinking water and sanitation services to millions of Africans who currently lack reliable access.
Minister Utsev emphasised that water security and sanitation are foundational to broader development goals, including food security, industrialisation, and climate resilience.
He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to lead and support member states in implementing actions that deliver tangible results for communities across Africa.
Nyambe acknowledged Nigeria’s longstanding role as host of the AMCOW Secretariat and commended the minister’s leadership in elevating water and sanitation issues within continental development discourse.
The AU delegation said the upcoming implementation plan will prioritise high-impact flagship projects capable of accelerating water and sanitation coverage across member states.
Despite increasing policy attention at the continental level, Africa still faces significant water challenges — with over 400 million Africans lacking access to safely managed drinking water and nearly 700 million without basic sanitation services, highlighting the urgency of coordinated investment and action.