Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State says his administration is working around the clock to expand access to clean and safe water for every household across the state.

Mr Mbah stated this on Friday at the grand finale of the Enugu Water Sustainability Summit (EWSS) 2026, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

The summit, organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with development partners, had the theme “Water for All: Driving Innovation for Water Equality, Sustainability and Resilience”.

It brought together government officials, development partners, the private sector, academia, civil society organisations and young innovators to explore practical solutions for sustainable water supply and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in the state.

Represented by the secretary to the state government, Chidiebere Onyia, the governor said access to clean water remained a top priority of his administration, describing it as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

He said that although the government had made significant progress in restoring water supply to the Enugu metropolis, attention was now focused on expanding distribution networks to neighbourhoods and ensuring the system’s sustainability.

According to him, the major challenge is extending water to the ninth mile through effective reticulation and developing a sustainable economic model that guarantees an uninterrupted supply.

Mr Mbah said the state government was replacing aging asbestos pipelines with safer ductile pipes, rehabilitating existing water infrastructure, and strengthening the capacity of water institutions to improve service delivery.

He added that the ongoing interventions, supported by development partners, including the African Development Bank (ADB), would extend potable water supply to underserved urban and rural communities across the state.

The governor stressed that the government alone could not achieve universal access to safe water, calling for stronger collaboration among development partners and other stakeholders.

He also challenged young innovators to continue developing practical, scalable solutions to water and sanitation challenges, assuring them that the government would support innovations capable of delivering lasting impact.

Mr Mbah commended the commissioner for water resources, Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., development partners, and stakeholders for creating a platform that encouraged young people to contribute innovative ideas to improve water and sanitation services.

In her remarks, UNICEF Nigeria WASH manager Jolly Maulit said the water challenge in the state was not due to a lack of resources but was largely a consequence of geological conditions, infrastructure gaps, and the need for integrated water resource management.

Ms Maulit urged the people to move beyond dependence on isolated boreholes towards climate-resilient infrastructure, professionally managed utilities, and evidence-based planning capable of delivering sustainable water services.

She commended Mr Mbah for developing a water master plan, rehabilitating the Ninth Mile Water Scheme and achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in the Igbo-Etiti Council Area.

She advocated innovative financing models involving government, development partners, and the private sector.

Also speaking, the managing director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA), Chika Mbah, urged innovators to focus not only on urban communities but also on unlocking the vast water and development potential in rural areas.

Earlier, the commissioner for water resources said the summit was designed to engage young people in developing innovative solutions to the state’s water supply challenges and encourage public ownership of ongoing water sector reforms.

He said the government would review viable ideas presented by participants and integrate them into its water development programmes where applicable.

The commissioner added that although no definite completion timeline could be provided for ongoing projects, the administration remained committed to delivering safe, potable water through careful planning and strict adherence to public health and safety standards.

(NAN)