The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Borno State Government, on Wednesday, launched the Maiduguri Water Rehabilitation and Development Master Plan.
The project will start with phase one (2025-2026), and the investment will gulp the sum of $10 million in the first phase.
The initiative is targeted to benefit more than 2.5 million residents and displaced people by 2030.
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Speaking in Abuja during a roundtable, ICRC Head of Delegation in Nigeria, Doris El Doueihy, revealed that the plan is an investment-ready roadmap to scale water infrastructure in Maiduguri, where demand far exceeds supply.
AfDB’s Director-General, Abdul Kamara, said the Bank was working with Borno State, ICRC, and other partners to address water challenges, noting that good governance is key to achieving global goals on peace, justice, and clean water.
Kamara explained that it had invested more than $800 million in water and sanitation projects across Nigeria over the past decade, reaching over 8 million people.
Kamara further disclosed that in Borno State alone, AfDB programmes had benefitted 1.6 million people, with nearly a quarter of those investments concentrated in Maiduguri.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, reiterated the state’s dedication to building a resilient water system, describing the partnership as a crucial step toward safeguarding public health.
Zulum, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tijjani Bukar, said the state is determined to build systems that can withstand climate shocks, while outlining three pillars of the governor’s vision: universal access to potable water, resilient infrastructure, and innovative community-led solutions.