Enugu State pledges to ensure everyone has clean water

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has restated his administration’s promise to improve access to clean and safe water for all households in the state. He called access to clean water a fundamental right, not a privilege.

Mr Mbah made this statement on Friday during the closing ceremony of the Enugu Water Sustainability Summit 2026. The event took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

The summit was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources with help from development partners. The theme was “Water for All: Driving Innovation for Water Equality, Sustainability and Resilience.”

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, the governor said there has been good progress in restoring water supply to Enugu metropolis. He mentioned that efforts are now focused on spreading water distribution networks to more areas and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Discussing the technical challenges of the project, Mr Mbah highlighted the reticulation of water to the Ninth Mile area as a key goal. He said the state government is replacing old asbestos pipes with stronger ductile pipes and fixing the current water infrastructure to improve service delivery.

These ongoing efforts, backed by partners like the African Development Bank, aim to provide clean water to both urban and rural communities that lack it.

While recognising the size of the task, the governor stressed that the government cannot achieve universal access to safe water alone. He called for better cooperation with development partners and the private sector. He also encouraged young innovators to come up with solutions to water and sanitation problems.

He praised the Commissioner for Water Resources, Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., for creating a platform that allows young people to participate in shaping the state’s water policy.

In her speech, the UNICEF Nigeria WASH Manager, Jolly Maulit, said access to safe water is vital for public health, education, and economic growth.

She pointed out that the water issues in Enugu are mostly due to gaps in infrastructure and geological conditions, not a lack of resources. Ms Maulit warned against relying too much on isolated boreholes and encouraged the development of climate-resilient infrastructure and planning based on solid evidence.

“Sustainable water supply depends on strong institutions, skilled professionals, reliable financing, effective partnerships and improved governance,” she stated.

She commended the governor for creating a water master plan and for achieving Open Defecation Free status in the Igbo-Etiti Council area.

Also speaking was Chika Mbah, the Managing Director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. He urged innovators to focus on unlocking the water and development potential in rural areas as well as urban centres.

Commissioner for Water Resources, Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., mentioned that the summit aimed to encourage public ownership of ongoing water sector reforms. He promised that the government would consider viable ideas from participants and include them in its water development plans where suitable.

On project timelines, Mr Ndu Jr. said that while the administration is addressing the state’s long-time water problems, it remains committed to ensuring all projects meet strict public health and safety standards.