The federal government on Tuesday said Nigeria has made progress in providing safe water and sanitation but warned that a stronger commitment is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) by 2030.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Joseph Utsev said this in Abuja at the Annual Review Meeting of the third phase of the Accelerating Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA III) project.

Mr Utsev, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Richard Pheelangwa, said ASWA had contributed to measurable improvements in the sector, despite ongoing regional challenges.

He noted that ASWA II, launched in 2019, was implemented in six local government areas (LGAs) across Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno States.

“In spite of conflict in the region, ASWA II provided safe drinking water to 900,000 people and sanitation services to 775,880,” he said.

“More than 450,000 people were sensitised to handwashing.”

He added that 35 schools and 40 healthcare facilities were equipped with WASH facilities, and Nigeria’s first sector-wide sustainability checks were also conducted under the programme.

Mr Utsev explained that ASWA III was designed to build on those gains by delivering climate-resilient WASH services to at least 360,000 people in Adamawa and Kaduna States.

“The new phase will focus on system strengthening, clean energy use, market-based delivery, and partnerships, while remaining flexible to address security risks,” he said.

Citing the 2021 WASHNORM survey, Mr Utsev said 67 per cent of Nigerians now have access to basic water supply, and 151 LGAs across 21 states had been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).

He acknowledged improvements in hygiene and handwashing practices but stressed that more needs to be done to meet the SDG 6 targets within the next five years.

He urged Adamawa and Kaduna states to take the implementation of ASWA III seriously and exceed the achievements of the previous phase.

Mr Utsev commended the government of the Netherlands, UNICEF, and other partners for their continued collaboration and support to the WASH sector in Nigeria.

“We assure you of our commitment to ensuring every investment yields value for the Nigerian people,” he said while declaring the meeting open.

The Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Bengt Van Loosdrecht, applauded Nigeria’s progress under ASWA II and reaffirmed his country’s support for the WASH agenda.

UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Waafa Saeed, said the country’s WASH story was changing, with stronger government commitment and community participation driving improvements.

UNICEF Nigeria’s chief of WASH, Jane Bevan, and Peem Vandermalen from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs both underscored the importance of access to clean water and sanitation as a basic human right.

Eight African countries, including Nigeria, are participating in ASWA III, an initiative supported by the Netherlands and UNICEF to expand WASH services in underserved communities.

(NAN)