The Federal Government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to advancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in Nigeria.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, stated this during the Annual Review Meeting of the Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA III–DGIS) Project, held in Abuja.
The meeting was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.
In his address on the occasion, the minister, who was represented at the Review Meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, emphasised that the Federal Government remains dedicated to strengthening partnerships, scaling up interventions, and accelerating progress in the WASH sector.
He explained that the ASWA project, funded by the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and being implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the government of Nigeria, is one of the key outcomes of the 2012 High-Level Sanitation and Water for All Meeting.
He noted that Nigeria is among eight participating countries in West and Central Africa currently benefitting from the programme.
Utsev also highlighted that ASWA III aims to provide climate-resilient WASH services to at least 360,000 people across four Local Government Areas in Adamawa and Kaduna states.
He added that this new phase will place stronger emphasis on system strengthening and clean energy adoption, while also promoting public-private partnerships and market-based service delivery, adding that the programme incorporates flexibility to address security challenges in order to ensure effective delivery.
He noted that 151 Local Government Areas across 21 states have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), stressing the importance of the growing awareness of basic hygiene practices, including handwashing at critical times.
He urged Adamawa and Kaduna states to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by ASWA III in order to surpass the results achieved under ASWA II.
“We salute the consistent support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria’s WASH sector and assure you of our cooperation in ensuring productive returns on this vital investment,” he said.
The minister extended appreciation to the Netherlands, the UNICEF Country, Regional, and Headquarters teams, as well as all partners and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s WASH progress.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, H.E. Bengt van Loosdrecht, underscored his country’s long-standing expertise in water management, climate resilience, and innovative service delivery.
Reflecting on sanitation as a matter of dignity, he stressed the need for sustained advocacy and collaboration.
Also speaking at the event, the UNICEF Country Representative for Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, highlighted Nigeria’s progress since joining ASWA II in 2019, which laid the foundation for the current phase.
She noted that ASWA III goes beyond service delivery to focus on communication, resilience and sustainability.
In her submission, the Chief of WASH, UNICEF Nigeria, Jane Bevan, explained that the 2025 Annual Review Meeting convened stakeholders from Nigeria, the Netherlands UNICEF, and all eight ASWA countries to assess progress, identify gaps, and set priorities for 2026.
She highlighted the participation of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Mozambique, and Tanzania, alongside UNICEF’s regional offices (ESARO and WCARO) and the Water and Sanitation teams at headquarters, all of whom shared key achievements and lessons learned from ASWA II to date.
The meeting also brought together representatives of benefitting countries, development partners, government officials, and sector stakeholders to review progress, share lessons, and strengthen commitments toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
