Nigeria and the African Union Commission have intensified efforts to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation across Africa, following high-level talks with the African Ministers’ Council on Water in Abuja.
The engagement brought together senior officials from the AU and AMCOW with Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, as part of ongoing consultations to advance implementation of the continent’s long-term water security framework.
According to a statement from AMCOW, the AU delegation was led by Harsen Nyambe, Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the AU Commission, alongside Nelson Gomonda, Officer-in-Charge of the AMCOW Secretariat, and other senior officials.
Welcoming the delegation, Utsev said the visit underscored a shared commitment to strengthening water governance and closing access gaps across Africa.
“We are honoured to receive this high-level delegation… This visit reflects our collective resolve to advance water security and sanitation across the continent,” he said.
The minister described the meeting as timely, noting ongoing efforts to operationalise continental frameworks aimed at improving access to water and sanitation services. He stressed that sustained political will is critical to achieving progress, linking water security to broader development goals.
“Without safe water and sanitation, we cannot achieve food security, industrialisation, or climate resilience,” Utsev said.
He also highlighted the AU’s 2026 Theme of the Year — focused on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation — as a signal of growing continental prioritisation of the sector under Agenda 2063.
Utsev added that discussions would centre on developing the 2026–2033 implementation plan for the Africa Water Vision 2063, aimed at translating commitments into actionable programmes.
Responding, Nyambe commended Nigeria’s leadership in the sector, particularly its role as host of the AMCOW Secretariat since 2002, and said the visit formed part of broader consultations with member states.
“Our mission is to deepen collaboration with key countries like Nigeria as we move towards implementing the Africa Water Vision 2063 and ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.
Nyambe added that the forthcoming implementation plan would prioritise high-impact programmes capable of accelerating access to safe water and sanitation across the continent.
Despite growing policy attention, Africa continues to face significant water and sanitation challenges. According to the United Nations, more than 400 million people lack access to safe drinking water, while over 700 million are without adequate sanitation services.
In Nigeria, millions — particularly in rural and underserved communities — still lack safely managed water and sanitation, contributing to waterborne diseases and constraining socio-economic development.
AMCOW, established in 2002, serves as the AU’s specialised platform for water policy coordination, working with governments and development partners to mobilise investment and strengthen governance systems.
The Abuja meeting is expected to consolidate regional cooperation as African countries scale up efforts to close water access gaps and move towards universal access targets aligned with Agenda 2063.
