Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing clean, safe and potable water to every household across the state, describing access to water as a fundamental right and not a privilege.
The governor made the pledge at the grand finale of the 2026 Enugu Water Sustainability Summit held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The summit, organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with development partners, brought together government officials, development agencies, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations, academics and young innovators to explore sustainable solutions to water supply and sanitation challenges.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah said his administration has made significant progress in restoring water supply within Enugu metropolis and is now focused on expanding distribution networks to more communities across the state.
According to him, the government is prioritising the extension of water supply to the Ninth Mile area through improved reticulation while developing a sustainable model that will guarantee uninterrupted access to clean water.
He disclosed that the state is replacing ageing asbestos pipelines with safer ductile pipes, rehabilitating existing water infrastructure and strengthening water institutions to improve service delivery.
The governor added that ongoing projects, supported by development partners including the African Development Bank (AfDB), will extend potable water supply to underserved urban and rural communities.
Mbah, however, noted that achieving universal access to clean water requires stronger collaboration between government, development partners, the private sector and local communities.
He also challenged young innovators to develop practical and scalable solutions capable of addressing water and sanitation challenges, assuring them of the government’s support for impactful innovations.
Speaking at the summit, UNICEF Nigeria’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Manager, Jolly Maulit, attributed the state’s water challenges to geological conditions, infrastructure deficits and the need for integrated water resource management rather than a lack of water resources.
She commended the Enugu State Government for developing a comprehensive water master plan, rehabilitating the Ninth Mile Water Scheme and achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area.
Maulit called for innovative financing models involving government, development partners and the private sector to ensure long-term sustainability of water projects.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA), Chika Mbah, urged innovators to pay greater attention to rural communities, noting that expanding access to clean water in rural areas remains critical to sustainable development.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., said the summit was designed to encourage young people to contribute innovative ideas toward solving water supply challenges while promoting public ownership of ongoing reforms in the sector.
He assured participants that viable innovations emerging from the summit would be considered for integration into the state’s water development programmes.
The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering safe and potable water through careful planning, quality infrastructure and strict adherence to public health and safety standards.
