ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria and the African Union Commission have stepped up efforts to fast-track access to safe water and sanitation across the continent, following a high-level meeting with the African Ministers’ Council on Water in Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, Officer-in-Charge of AMCOW at the AU secretariat, Nelson Gomonda, said the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, hosted the AU delegation led by Harsen Nyambe, Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, alongside Nelson Gomonda and other senior officials at his office in Abuja.
The delegation also included Bala Tuham, Lead for Corporate Services; Comfort Kanshio, Policy Officer for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; and Jonathan Kampata, Adviser under the Blue Africa Action initiative, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and implemented by GIZ, the statement added.
While receiving the team, the minister emphasised the significance of the visit in boosting continental cooperation on water governance and policy execution.
“We are honoured to receive this high-level delegation from the African Union Commission and AMCOW. Your presence underscores the shared commitment to advancing water security and sanitation across Africa,” Utsev said.
READ ALSO: Pan-African Group Charges AU Members On Sustainable Water, Safe Sanitation
He noted that the engagement comes at a crucial time as efforts intensify to operationalise continental frameworks designed to bridge Africa’s water access gaps.
“This visit is a clear demonstration of the strong partnership between Nigeria, the African Union, and AMCOW in driving forward a unified water and sanitation agenda for the continent,” he added.
Utsev stressed that consistent political will is essential for meaningful progress, pointing out that water and sanitation cut across several sectors.
“Water security is central to Africa’s transformation. Without safe water and sanitation, we cannot achieve food security, industrialisation, or climate resilience,” he said.
On policy direction, the minister highlighted the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems” as a key move to prioritise the sector within Agenda 2063.
“The elevation of water and sanitation as the AU Theme of the Year reflects a growing recognition that these are not standalone issues but foundational pillars for Africa’s development,” he noted.
“Nigeria stands ready to provide leadership in convening member states and partners to develop an actionable implementation plan that will deliver tangible results for our people,” he said.
He added that discussions would centre on crafting the 2026–2033 implementation plan for the Africa Water Vision 2063, aimed at translating commitments into concrete programmes.
In response, Nyambe praised Nigeria’s sustained leadership in the sector and its role as host of the AMCOW Secretariat since 2002.
“Nigeria has remained a strong pillar of support for AMCOW and for Africa’s water governance architecture. This engagement further demonstrates that leadership,” he said.
He described the visit as part of wider consultations to drive the implementation of the Africa Water Vision 2063.
READ ALSO: Nestlé Nigeria Unveils Water Safety Handbook To Boost Public Health Awareness
“Our mission here is to deepen collaboration with key member states like Nigeria as we move towards implementing the Africa Water Vision 2063 and ensuring that no one is left behind,” Nyambe added.
Nyambe also recognised the minister’s contribution to raising the profile of water and sanitation issues across the continent.
“The leadership demonstrated by Nigeria, particularly through the Honourable Minister, is critical in ensuring that water and sanitation remain at the forefront of Africa’s development priorities,” he said.
He added that the forthcoming implementation plan would prioritise high-impact initiatives.
“We are working towards a plan that prioritises high-impact flagship programmes capable of accelerating access to safe water and sanitation for millions across Africa,” he added.