FG, Niger Basin Authority push for faster water projects

The Federal Government and the Niger Basin Authority have called for accelerated implementation of regional development projects, warning that sustainable financing, climate change adaptation and effective management of shared water resources are critical to improving the livelihoods of more than 200 million people across the basin.

The call followed a series of regional meetings organised by the NBA in Abuja from September 28 to October 9, 2026, involving representatives of its nine member countries, development partners, technical experts and other stakeholders.

In a statement signed by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Funmi Imuetinyan, on Saturday, the NBA Executive Secretary, Kocou Houanye, urged member countries to fast-track ongoing projects, complete multipurpose water infrastructure and strengthen institutional governance to ensure that investments deliver lasting benefits.

He identified “hydrodiplomacy, climate change adaptation, youth and women’s participation, and the development of transboundary water infrastructure as essential to sustainable development and regional stability.”

Houanye said investments in the water sector were particularly important for young people, noting that more than 80 per cent of jobs across the region were connected to water resources.

He said, “More than 80 per cent of jobs in the region are connected to water resources,” stressing the need for investments that would create economic opportunities, improve livelihoods and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate-related challenges.

The NBA chief also called for urgent action to improve the implementation of the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin, known as PIDACC/NB, which he described as entering a decisive phase.

He urged member countries to release counterpart funds, expedite outstanding project requests and complete infrastructure projects awaiting implementation.

Houanye further called on the countries concerned to sign the Framework Agreement on the Common Basket Fund by November 15, 2026, and speed up documentation required to access available resources from the Global Environment Facility, with access expected to begin in November.

Providing an update on the programme, he disclosed that its physical implementation rate rose from 37 per cent at the end of June 2025 to nearly 50 per cent by the end of June 2026.

The commitment rate also increased from 49 per cent to nearly 60 per cent within the same period.

According to him, the improvements reflect ongoing institutional reforms and better programme management, although additional efforts are required to complete outstanding projects and consolidate existing achievements.

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He said the 2027 work plans should prioritise faster project delivery, adequate maintenance arrangements and measures to sustain the benefits of completed infrastructure ahead of the programme’s closure.

The executive secretary also highlighted institutional reforms, including the adoption of the NBA Strategic Plan and Operational Plan for 2026–2030, revised administrative, financial and procurement procedures, and measures to improve staffing and operational efficiency.

He added that the authority was modernising and digitalising its water and environmental information systems to strengthen planning, monitoring and management of resources across the basin.

Houanye disclosed that efforts were also underway to operationalise the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Fund for the Niger Basin from early 2027, as part of measures to secure more sustainable financing for the authority’s activities.

He reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the African Development Bank Group, the European Union, the World Bank Group, climate finance institutions, the private sector and the research community.

He also highlighted plans to deepen cooperation with the Lake Chad Basin Commission to improve coordination on shared environmental and development challenges.

Earlier, at the closing session of a workshop involving National Coordinating Units, the NBA’s National Focal Structure and the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s focal point in Nigeria, Umezulike Robert, who represented the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, commended the NBA leadership, member countries and development partners for their contributions to the meetings.

He said the 10-day engagements provided an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences, identify implementation challenges and develop practical solutions to improve the delivery of PIDACC/NB sub-projects and infrastructure.

Robert expressed confidence that the recommendations and lessons from the meetings would translate into improved project implementation, stronger institutional performance and better outcomes for communities across the basin.

He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective countries, emphasising that regional cooperation, effective project delivery and proper maintenance of completed infrastructure were necessary to achieve the authority’s development objectives.

The Niger Basin Authority is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising nine countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. It promotes cooperation in the sustainable and integrated management of the Niger River Basin, which supports agriculture, fisheries, hydropower generation, transportation and other economic activities.