Government pushes for increased climate funding to improve water and sanitation infrastructure

The Federal Government made a call for increased funding to bolster Nigeria's water, sanitation, and hygiene systems on Monday, emphasizing the need for greater investment to shield communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.

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This appeal was made as the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, officially opened the 2026 Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference in Abuja, where he reiterated the government's dedication to incorporating climate-resilient WASH systems into Nigeria's climate adaptation agenda.

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Utsev stressed that resilient water and sanitation systems are vital for achieving water security, protecting public health, improving food security, and sustaining economic growth, highlighting 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.

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The minister noted that the climate crisis is fundamentally a water crisis, with climate change exerting increasing pressure on water resources and sanitation infrastructure across the country, and emphasized the ministry's commitment to expanding climate-resilient water infrastructure and promoting integrated water resources management.

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Utsev urged conference participants to move beyond discussions and produce practical recommendations to accelerate the integration of WASH into Nigeria's climate adaptation framework, stating that 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.

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The minister also commended President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for reforms in the water sector, which has enabled the ministry to pursue critical interventions aimed at improving access to safe water and sanitation.

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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 in partnership with WaterAid, UNICEF, and the World Bank-supported SURWASH Programme.

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Ali Ibrahim Dallah, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, 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.

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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, 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.

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The conference attracted a diverse range of stakeholders, including 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.

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Climate change is increasingly disrupting access to safe water and sanitation in Nigeria through recurrent flooding, prolonged droughts, desertification, and changing rainfall patterns, damaging water infrastructure, contaminating water sources, and heightening the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly in vulnerable rural and urban communities.

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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, with experts arguing that achieving these goals will require significantly higher climate finance.

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The conference 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.