The Federal Government and the Niger Basin Authority have called for accelerated delivery of regional water and climate adaptation projects to improve livelihoods and strengthen resilience across the Niger Basin.
The call followed a series of regional meetings held in Abuja from September 28 to October 9, 2026, with representatives from the authority’s nine member countries, development partners and technical experts in attendance.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Funmi Imuetinyan, the NBA Executive Secretary, Kocou Houanye, urged member states to speed up ongoing projects, complete multipurpose water infrastructure and strengthen institutional management.
Houanye said sustainable financing, climate change adaptation and cooperation among countries sharing water resources were essential to achieving lasting development and regional stability.
He noted that investments in water resources were particularly important for employment and economic growth, as more than 80 per cent of jobs across the region were linked to the sector.
“More than 80 per cent of jobs in the region are connected to water resources,” he said, calling for investments that would expand economic opportunities, improve livelihoods and help communities withstand climate-related challenges.
The NBA chief also stressed the need to accelerate the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/NB), which he said had reached a critical stage of implementation.
He urged member countries to release their counterpart funds, process outstanding project requests and commence pending infrastructure projects.
Houanye further called on the countries concerned to sign the Framework Agreement on the Common Basket Fund by November 15, 2026, and complete the necessary documentation to access funding from the Global Environment Facility, with access expected to begin in November.
Providing an update on PIDACC/NB, he said the programme’s physical implementation rate had increased from 37 per cent at the end of June 2025 to nearly 50 per cent by the end of June 2026.
He added that its commitment rate rose from 49 per cent to almost 60 per cent during the same period.
According to him, the progress reflects improvements in institutional reforms and programme management, although more work is required to complete outstanding projects and sustain the gains recorded.
He said the programme’s 2027 work plans should focus on faster project delivery, adequate maintenance of infrastructure and measures to preserve the benefits of completed projects ahead of its closure.
The executive secretary also highlighted reforms introduced by the authority, including the adoption of its Strategic Plan and Operational Plan for 2026–2030, revised administrative, financial and procurement procedures, and efforts to improve staffing and operational efficiency.
He said the NBA was also upgrading and digitising its water and environmental information systems to improve planning, monitoring and resource management across the basin.
Houanye disclosed that the authority was working towards making the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Fund for the Niger Basin operational in early 2027 to provide more sustainable financing for its activities.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the African Development Bank Group, the European Union, the World Bank Group, climate finance institutions, the private sector and research organisations.
He also identified stronger collaboration with the Lake Chad Basin Commission as a priority for addressing shared environmental and development challenges.
Earlier, Umezulike Robert, who represented the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, at the closing session of a workshop involving the NBA’s National Coordinating Units, National Focal Structure and the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s focal point in Nigeria, commended the authority, member countries and development partners for their contributions.
Robert said the 10-day meetings provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange experiences, examine implementation challenges and develop practical measures to improve the delivery of PIDACC/NB projects.
He expressed optimism that the recommendations from the engagements would lead to more effective project execution, stronger institutional performance and improved outcomes for communities across the basin.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective countries, stressing that regional cooperation, timely project implementation and proper maintenance of completed infrastructure were essential to achieving the authority’s objectives.
The Niger Basin Authority is an intergovernmental organisation comprising Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. It promotes the sustainable and integrated management of the Niger River Basin, which supports agriculture, fisheries, hydropower generation, transportation and other economic activities.
