Nigeria Stakeholders Propose Urban Sanitation Roadmap

In Abuja, Nigeria, stakeholders convened to chart a roadmap for transforming urban sanitation, as highlighted by Mr. Jamilu Danhabu, Director of the Department of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The initiative responds to rapid urbanization and population growth, which have exacerbated challenges in wastewater and faecal sludge management. The current state of urban sanitation poses critical public health and environmental risks.

The stakeholders identified key challenges, including limited sewerage coverage, inadequate faecal sludge management, weak infrastructure, and low private sector participation. They proposed a programmatic approach that links long-term interventions with strategic objectives, emphasizing the need for political commitment, reliable data, and regulatory reforms.

Mr. Peter Von from the African Development Bank described Nigeria's sanitation sector as having high-impact opportunities constrained by structural challenges.

Recommendations include enhancing financing, developing climate-resilient infrastructure, and establishing treatment plants, with a focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 by 2030.