The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening climate-resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems as a key driver of Nigeria’s climate adaptation and sustainable development agenda.
Declaring open the 2026 Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference today in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, emphasized that resilient WASH systems are essential for achieving water security, public health, food security and economic growth. He noted that Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) provides a strategic opportunity to mainstream WASH into the country’s climate adaptation efforts.
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 the Department of Hydrology in collaboration with development partners, including WaterAid, UNICEF and the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to climate-resilient water infrastructure, integrated water resources management, climate-smart sanitation, early warning systems, increased climate finance and inclusive community participation.
Prof. Utsev observed the threats of climate change on the WASH sector and stressed that the climate crisis is fundamentally a water crisis. According to him, Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) presents a strategic opportunity to position WASH at the centre of the country’s climate adaptation agenda.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue to implementation by developing practical, actionable recommendations that will accelerate the integration of WASH into Nigeria’s climate adaptation framework.
The Honourable Minister expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support and steadfast commitment to enabling the Ministry to deliver on its mandate. He also applauded the development partners, including WaterAid, UNICEF, the World Bank-supported SURWASH Programme and the National Technical Working Group on Climate-Resilient WASH, for their continued collaboration.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, welcomed participants and commended their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s climate resilience agenda through the WASH sector. He noted that climate change remains one of the greatest challenges of our time and emphasised the need for stronger coordination, sustainable financing and innovative approaches to building resilient WASH systems.
Speakers at the conference, including representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Budget and Economic Planning, WaterAid, UNICEF, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and NEWSAN, called for stronger partnerships, sustainable financing, effective planning and greater integration of WASH into Nigeria’s climate policies to protect vulnerable communities.
The conference brought together State Commissioners of Water Resources, senior government officials, development partners, climate experts, WASH practitioners, researchers, civil society organisations, academia, private sector representatives and media practitioners to advance practical strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s climate resilience through sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene systems.
Highlights of the conference included technical presentations by leading academics and climate experts, panel discussions, plenary sessions and group presentations focused on developing practical recommendations for mainstreaming climate-resilient WASH into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Planning and NDC 3.0 implementation.
Signed
Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan
Director, Information and Public Relations
29/06/2026
