The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has called for water security to be integrated into Nigeria’s national security architecture.
He warned that access to safe water and sanitation is now central to public health, food security and economic stability.
Prof. 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.
The Minister, in a statement by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, Director, Information and Public Relations, said Nigeria must move beyond treating water as only a development matter.
“Water insecurity, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, flooding, drought and climate variability could trigger public health emergencies, displacement and resource-based crises, intensify competition among water users and increase vulnerability to climate-related shocks,” he stated.
He identified flooding and drought as major security concerns, citing the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook which listed 1,249 communities in 176 LGAs across 30 States and the FCT as high flood-risk areas.
Prof. Utsev highlighted the role of River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in irrigation, agriculture, fisheries, rural water supply, flood control and job creation.
On food security, he said irrigation is critical to reducing dependence on unpredictable rainfall.
According to him, approximately 154,000 hectares of irrigable land are currently benefiting more than 1.6 million farmers, with efforts ongoing to expand coverage.
To drive coordination, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry is developing a National Water Compact for 2026–2030 as a roadmap to harmonise water and sanitation policies.
The Compact is built around three pillars:
Water for People – safe water and sanitation
Water for Food – irrigation and food security
Water for the Planet – climate resilience and sustainable water resources management
He said the Compact is being developed through a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach involving federal and state governments, security agencies, RBDAs, traditional and religious institutions, private sector, development partners, CSOs and communities.
The Minister also stressed the importance of water diplomacy and transboundary cooperation, noting that Nigeria shares major water resources with neighbours and must strengthen regional collaboration.
To strengthen water security, Prof. Utsev listed five priorities:
Integrating water security into national security planning
Strengthening whole-of-government coordination
Increasing strategic investment and sustainable financing
Building climate resilience and national water intelligence
Developing capacity of women and youths
“The resilience of the systems that sustain the people is fundamental to national security,” he said.
“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.”
The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, commended the lecture, saying it clearly demonstrated that water security remains key to national security.
He called for greater utilisation of Nigeria’s freshwater resources and stronger international cooperation on shared water systems.
The Minister was accompanied by Engr. Dallah Ali Ibrahim, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary; Mr. Babarinde Segun Mukaila, Director, Water Supply and Support Services; and Mr. Habu Jemilu, Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation.