The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to addressing the effects of climate change in Nigeria.
Utsev made this commitment during the unveiling of the Nigerian Multi-Lateral Infrastructure and Climate Change Summit and Business Excellence on Friday in Abuja.
The event, organised by the Africa Infrastructure, Climate Change, and Investment Summit (AICIS) 2025 – Nigeria, focused on exploring over $12 trillion in investment opportunities in infrastructure, green energy transition, climate change, space, and digital/artificial intelligence technology across Africa.
Utsev, represented by the Director of Hydrology in the ministry, Mrs. Ngozi Abohwo, emphasised that the ministry has taken proactive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on water resources and related infrastructure.
He highlighted the summit as a platform to assess Africa’s economic and security infrastructure and identify new development partners.
“The ministry recognizes the urgency of the challenges posed by climate change,” Utsev stated, referencing recent policy initiatives and strategic plans like the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan and the presidential committee’s main report on preventing flood disasters.
These initiatives, he said, underscore the ministry’s commitment to building resilient water and sanitation infrastructure.
“The energy demand and emissions from the water sector are significant, especially when transporting water or pumping it through systems. It is crucial to deploy more renewable energy sources to the water sector to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or carbon footprints,” Utsev added.
To address this, the ministry has launched the National Programme for the Conversion of Diesel-Powered Water Schemes (including irrigation schemes, boreholes, and water treatment facilities) to renewable energy sources.
This initiative aims to inventory, rehabilitate, and convert existing schemes from fossil fuels to renewable energy, tailored to the energy resources available in each region of the country.
“In its efforts to reduce GHG emissions—the primary drivers of climate change—and mitigate flood risks, the ministry has also begun constructing small hydropower plants nationwide, including the Datsin Hausa Dam,” Utsev explained.
“These small hydropower projects will retrofit existing small dams, initially built for irrigation purposes, with hydropower systems.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. George Akume, expressed his office’s support for the AICIS partnership to promote infrastructure development, climate change mitigation, and investment initiatives for Nigeria and Africa.
Represented by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Bilateral Relations, Mr. Etoabasi Okon, Akume emphasized the need for Africa to harness its climate change activities for economic benefits.
The Chairman of the Planning and Organising Committee for AICIS 2025, Mr. Moses Owharo, stated that the Nigerian Multi-Lateral Infrastructure and Climate Summit would shape Africa’s development trajectory, starting with Nigeria.
He underscored Nigeria’s critical role as West Africa’s political and economic powerhouse.
“We believe that AICIS 2025 will project Africa, particularly Nigeria, to the world, building on the successful maiden edition in the U.S. in 2024,” Owharo said.
The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Nigerian Space Agency, diplomats from Burundi and Ethiopia, civil society organizations (CSOs), NGOs, and other development partners.
NAN
