By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal Government has urged participating states to accelerate the execution of projects under the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project following its extension to 2028.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call in Jos, Plateau State, during the opening of the 2nd Semester 2026 National Urban Water Sector Reform Project Coordination and Review Workshop.
Represented by the project’s National Coordinator, Mr. Kasim Nafiu, the minister commended the French Development Agency (AFD) for extending the project deadline from December 2026 to 2028. He noted that the extension offers participating states crucial extra time to complete ongoing rehabilitation works and resolve implementation hurdles.
Speaking at the two-day event themed ‘Improving Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery,’ Utsev stated that the workshop serves as a platform for empirical review, allowing states to share experiences, address bottlenecks, and optimize service delivery. He called on all stakeholders to maximize the extended timeline to realize the project’s long-term objectives.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, highlighted water security as a pillar of modern governance and human development.
To demonstrate this commitment, Governor Mutfwang revealed that Plateau State has injected ₦2.6 billion as counterpart funding into the initiative. Through the Jos Water Services Corporation and related agencies, the state is actively expanding municipal reticulation networks and rehabilitating key water infrastructure, including the Yelwa, Yakubu Gowon, and Laminga Water Treatment Plants, alongside regional schemes in Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Langtang South, and Wase.
Governor Mutfwang also appealed to the AFD to streamline administrative procedures and expedite the issuance of “No Objection” approvals to prevent delays and sustain project momentum.
Co-financed by the AFD and other development partners, the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project aims to improve urban drinking water quality, expand distribution networks, and enhance the financial sustainability of state water utilities across Nigeria.
