By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev,, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving the objectives of the World Bank-supported Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, emphasizing the importance of timely coordination, adequate funding, and strengthened stakeholders engagement.
DON'T MISS
The Minister made this known on Wednesday, while delivering his keynote address at the 4th Federal Steering Committee (FSC) Meeting of the SURWASH Programme held in Abuja.
In his address, Prof. Utsev commended members of the Federal Steering Committee for their steadfast support in driving the implementation of the SURWASH Programme and reiterated the administration’s alignment of the Programme’s objectives with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a statement by the Director Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, said.
Prof. Utsev highlighted key milestones achieved under the Programme, including the provision of water supply, improvement of sanitation facilities, and installation of complete WASH facilities in health centres and schools. He noted that while the Programme’s impact continues to expand, even greater results are anticipated following the completion of the Year 4 Independent Verification Agent (IVA) Report and the upcoming second verification cycle, which will boost state-level disbursements.
The Minister also provided updates on the ongoing Mid-Term Review (MTR) and Programme Restructuring, noting that the first phase was completed in February 2025, with significant alignment of Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) to enhance results and improve fund flow to states. The second phase, currently underway, focuses on financial reallocation, rate adjustments, and onboarding of ten new states, bringing the total number of participating states to seventeen.
Prof. Utsev emphasized the need for states to finalize budgets and work plans promptly to prevent delays in implementation and committee meetings, pledging that all necessary efforts will be made to strengthen coordination through upgraded Programme Coordination Units (PCUs) at both federal and state levels.
He urged participating states to prioritize funding for their SURWASH activities and accelerate the rollout of communication strategies to enhance transparency and stakeholder engagement.
“Let us continue to collaborate and push forward the implementation of SURWASH. With effective coordination and commitment, we will achieve the Programme’s objectives and deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Minister appealed.
He expressed profound appreciation to the World Bank for its continued technical and financial support, as well as to members of the Federal Executive Council, State Commissioners, and Programme Coordinators at all levels for their unwavering collaboration and dedication to ensuring the success of the SURWASH Programme.
The Director of Water Supply, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Mukaila Segun Babarinde, called on commissioners to sensitize their colleagues about the SURWASH Programme and encourage their participation.
While giving an update on the performance of the Programme, the National Coordinator, Engr. Abdulhamid Gwaram, described its performance as strong in institutional strengthening and moderate in service delivery, noting that the Program-for-Results (PforR) model is new and comes with initial challenges. Engr. Gwaram commended the states for their growing understanding and commitment, emphasizing that the better they perform, the more support they will receive to expand services. He encouraged sustained dedication to ensure the Programme’s continued success.
Present at the Review Meeting were state commissioners, representatives of line ministries, World Bank officials, and other water resources stakeholders. The initial participating states are Delta, Gombe, Imo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau.
