…1,249 communities in 30 states, FCT face flood risk

The Federal Government has warned that water insecurity, flooding, drought and poor sanitation are emerging threats to Nigeria’s national security, with 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory identified as high flood-risk areas.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, gave the warning on Monday at the National Defence College, Abuja, where he called for water security to be formally integrated into Nigeria’s national security architecture.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Water Resources Management and Sanitation as Catalysts for Sustainable National Development and Security in Nigeria,” Utsev said water could no longer be treated merely as a development concern.

He said inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, climate-induced flooding and drought could trigger public health emergencies, displacement, competition over resources, livelihood disruption and resource-based conflicts.

“Water security is national security,” the minister declared, stressing that protecting the systems that sustain Nigerians was fundamental to national stability and resilience.

Utsev said irrigation was also critical to food security as changing rainfall patterns increasingly threatened rain-fed agriculture.

He disclosed that about 154,000 hectares of irrigable land currently benefit more than 1.6 million farmers, with government working to expand irrigation coverage.

The minister further called for stronger coordination among the water, agriculture, health, environment and security sectors, as well as increased investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, water intelligence and community participation.

He disclosed that the ministry was developing a National Water Compact for 2026–2030, designed to harmonise water and sanitation interventions across the country.

The Compact, he said, would be anchored on three pillars: Water for People, Water for Food and Water for the Planet, covering access to safe water and sanitation, irrigation and food security, and climate resilience.

Utsev also emphasised water diplomacy and cooperation with neighbouring countries over shared water resources, saying effective management of transboundary waters was important for regional stability and economic development.

He identified five priorities for strengthening Nigeria’s water security: integrating water security into national security planning; improving inter-governmental coordination; increasing investment and sustainable financing; strengthening climate resilience and water intelligence; and building the capacity of women and youths.

Responding, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, said the lecture demonstrated the direct link between water security and national security.

He identified flooding, drought and resource-based conflicts as major security concerns and urged greater utilisation of Nigeria’s freshwater resources and stronger international cooperation in managing shared water systems.