By Eniola Elewude
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has called for the integration of water security into Nigeria’s national security architecture.
Utsev made the call while delivering a lecture titled, “Water Resources Management and Sanitation as Catalysts for Sustainable National Development and Security in Nigeria”, at the National Defence College, Abuja, on Monday.
The minister said access to safe water and sanitation was fundamental to public health, food security, economic stability and national resilience.
He urged Nigeria to move beyond viewing water as merely a development issue and recognise it as a strategic national security priority.
According to him, water insecurity, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, flooding, drought and climate variability could trigger public health emergencies and displacement.
He said such challenges could also intensify competition among water users, undermine livelihoods and increase vulnerability to climate-related shocks.
Utsev highlighted the roles of River Basin Development Authorities in irrigation, agriculture, fisheries, rural water supply, flood control, job creation and agro-processing.
On food security, he said irrigation development was critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on unpredictable rainfall patterns.
The minister disclosed that about 154,000 hectares of irrigable land currently benefited more than 1.6 million farmers, adding that efforts were underway to expand irrigation coverage.
He said the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook identified 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas across 30 states and the FCT as high flood-risk areas.
Utsev advocated stronger coordination among the water, agriculture, health, environment and security sectors, alongside increased investment and effective regulation.
He also called for reliable water intelligence, climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger community participation to strengthen Nigeria’s water security.
The minister disclosed that the ministry was developing a National Water Compact for 2026–2030 to harmonise Nigeria’s water and sanitation policies and interventions.
He said the Compact would focus on three strategic pillars: Water for People, Water for Food and Water for the Planet.
According to him, the pillars focus on safe water and sanitation, irrigation and food security, and climate resilience and sustainable water resources management.
Utsev said the Compact was being developed through a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach involving federal and sub-national governments and security agencies.
He said traditional and religious institutions, private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and communities would also participate in the process.
The minister stressed the importance of water diplomacy and transboundary cooperation, saying Nigeria shared major water resources with neighbouring countries.
He said stronger regional collaboration was necessary to promote stability, economic growth and sustainable development.
Utsev identified five priorities for strengthening water security; integrating water security into national security planning and strengthening whole-of-government coordination.
Others, he said, were increasing strategic investment and sustainable financing, building climate resilience and national water intelligence, and developing women and youth capacity.
He stressed that the resilience of systems sustaining the people was fundamental to national security.
“Protecting water resources, expanding access to safe water and sanitation, strengthening irrigation, and improving preparedness for floods and droughts are essential to securing Nigeria’s future,” he said.
In his response, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, commended Utsev for the presentation.
Ahmed said the lecture clearly demonstrated that water security remained key to national security.
He identified flooding, drought and resource-based conflicts as major security concerns, calling for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s freshwater resources.
The commandant also called for stronger international cooperation in managing shared water systems.
The minister was accompanied by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ali Dallah; Director, Water Supply and Support Services, Mr Babarinde Mukaila.
Also present was the Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Mr Habu Jamilu. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade