Nigeria and the African Union Commission have ramped up efforts to improve access to safe water and sanitation across Africa, amid growing concerns over the continent’s widening water access gap.

This followed a high-level meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and a delegation from the African Union Commission and the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW).

The AU team was led by Harsen Nyambe, Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, alongside AMCOW’s Officer-in-Charge, Nelson Gomonda, and other senior officials.

Welcoming the delegation, Utsev described the engagement as a critical step toward strengthening continental collaboration on water governance.

“We are honoured to receive this high-level delegation… Your presence underscores the shared commitment to advancing water security and sanitation across Africa,” he said.

He stressed that water security remains central to Africa’s broader development goals, warning that progress in key sectors would stall without it.

“Without safe water and sanitation, we cannot achieve food security, industrialisation, or climate resilience,” the minister stated.

Utsev also pointed to the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year — “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems” — as a sign of renewed political focus on the sector.

“The elevation of water and sanitation… reflects a growing recognition that these are foundational pillars for Africa’s development,” he added.

According to him, discussions at the meeting centred on developing a 2026–2033 implementation plan for the Africa Water Vision 2063, aimed at translating policy commitments into practical, measurable outcomes.

Responding, Nyambe commended Nigeria’s leadership role, particularly its long-standing support for AMCOW since hosting its secretariat in 2002.

“Nigeria has remained a strong pillar of support for Africa’s water governance architecture,” he said, adding that the visit was part of broader consultations to accelerate implementation of the Africa Water Vision.

“Our mission… is to ensure that no one is left behind in access to safe water and sanitation,” Nyambe noted.

He revealed that the forthcoming plan would prioritise high-impact programmes capable of delivering results at scale.

Despite increasing policy attention, Africa continues to face significant challenges. United Nations data shows that over 400 million people on the continent lack access to safe drinking water, while more than 700 million are without adequate sanitation.

In Nigeria, access gaps remain pronounced, especially in rural and underserved communities, contributing to persistent waterborne diseases and slowing socio-economic development.

The Abuja meeting is expected to strengthen regional coordination as African countries intensify efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation under the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.