{
  "id": 3725767,
  "title": "Water crisis: FG begins nationwide consultation for sector-wide reforms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/water-crisis-fg-begins-nationwide-consultation-for-sector-wide-reforms-3725767",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T11:46:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/water-crisis-fg-begins-nationwide-consultation-for-sector-wide-reforms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Federal Government has initiated a nationwide consultation aimed at creating a National Water Compact to tackle Nigeria's ongoing water and sanitation issues and enhance water security. The initiative was unveiled by Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, at a nationwide stakeholders' consultation workshop in Abuja. The minister highlighted the need to address challenges such as rapid urbanization, population growth, climate change, environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, fragmented institutional arrangements, and financing constraints. These challenges have impacted Nigeria's ability to provide reliable water supply, sanitation services, and productive water use. Utsev emphasized that water is fundamental to sustainable development, playing a crucial role in public health, food security, economic growth, environmental sustainability, energy production, and national security. The compact is being developed in line with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to strengthen governance, improve financing, accelerate access to safe water and sanitation, support irrigation development, and enhance water security. The National Technical Working Committee, consisting of representatives from various sectors, has completed the first draft of the compact. For the compact to succeed, Utsev stressed the importance of state governments and other stakeholders' ownership and participation. President Tinubu has been briefed on the progress, and the nationwide consultation will allow stakeholders to identify gaps, determine state priorities, propose strategic actions, and strengthen implementation arrangements. The Ministry of Health also highlighted the importance of water security in public health and healthcare delivery, calling for stronger collaboration between the water and health sectors.",
  "summary": "The Federal Government has launched nationwide consultations to develop a National Water Compact, addressing Nigeria’s persistent water crisis and sanitati Read More: https://punchng.com/water-crisis-fg-begins-nationwide-consultation-for-sector-wide-reforms/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Water crisis: FG begins nationwide consultation for sector-wide reforms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/water-crisis-fg-begins-nationwide-consultation-for-sector-wide-reforms",
        "published": "2026-08-27T11:40:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}