Top government officials, stakeholders from the United Nations and the private sector have said that reversing water scarcity could boost Nigeria’s economic growth by up to six per cent each year. They specifically stated that “The associated peace dividend — through reduced farmer-herder conflict, could unlock as much as $13.7 billion annually.”
The stakeholders who spoke at the launch of the Lokoja Dialogue, an independent non-profit platform focused on strengthening Nigeria’s resilience by applying a Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus approach to community challenges said, without urgent change, unsafe water and poor sanitation will continue costing Nigeria at least 1.3 per cent of GDP each year, while water-linked malnutrition and stunting suppress long-term productivity by up to 11 per cent.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who highlighted the human impact at the centre of the initiative, stated that, “Families seek better access to clean water, food and energy. This initiative aligns with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to enhance the quality of life for all Nigerians through unity, compassion and purposeful action.”
On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasised the critical role of water as a strategic economic asset, calling for urgent collective action to improve access, boost productivity, and reduce climate vulnerability.
Edun underscored the role of water as a strategic economic asset and called for coordinated investment, innovation and collaboration to improve access, boost agricultural productivity, reduce climate vulnerability and support inclusive growth.
Convened by Polly Alakija, the initiative introduces a new model of engagement that connects community realities to technical insight, national planning and investment opportunities. Mrs Alakija described Nigeria’s “water paradox”, noting that while the country has abundant water resources, access and management remain uneven.
Alakija said,
“Nigeria’s water crisis is not about availability, it is about access. And certainly, we can say that our broken water cycles have become a cycle of poverty. As recognised in the COP29 Water for Climate Action Declaration – the climate crisis is a water crisis.”
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Joseph Terlumun Utsev emphasised the importance of aligning technical and community efforts. “Water is the life blood that sustains our ecosystem, empowers our economy and nourishes our people.”, he remarked.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yussuf Tuggar reminded the audience that the history of Africa is inextricably tied to the history of water and water systems.
