Governor Peter Mbah says the Enugu State Government is intensifying efforts to expand access to clean and safe water across the state through infrastructure upgrades, strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.
ENUGU – Governor Peter Mbah has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to clean and safe water for households across Enugu State, describing water as a fundamental right that should be available to every resident.
Mbah made the commitment on Friday at the grand finale of the Enugu Water Sustainability Summit (EWSS) 2026, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The summit, organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Water Resources in collaboration with development partners, was themed “Water for All: Driving Innovation for Water Equality, Sustainability and Resilience.”
The event brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, academics, civil society organisations and young innovators to explore practical solutions for sustainable water supply and improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services across the state.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah said expanding access to clean water remains one of the administration’s top priorities.
He noted that although significant progress had been made in restoring water supply within the Enugu metropolis, the government’s attention had shifted to extending distribution networks to more neighbourhoods while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the system.
According to the governor, one of the major priorities is extending water supply to the Ninth Mile area through improved reticulation while developing a sustainable economic model capable of guaranteeing uninterrupted service.
Mbah disclosed that the state government is replacing ageing asbestos pipelines with safer ductile pipes, rehabilitating existing water infrastructure and strengthening water institutions to improve service delivery.
He added that ongoing interventions, supported by development partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), would expand access to potable water in underserved urban and rural communities.
The governor stressed that achieving universal access to safe water requires stronger collaboration among government, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders.
He also encouraged young innovators to continue developing practical and scalable solutions to water and sanitation challenges, assuring them of government support for impactful innovations.
Mbah commended the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., development partners and other stakeholders for creating a platform that encourages young people to contribute innovative ideas to improve water and sanitation services.
In her remarks, UNICEF Nigeria WASH Manager, Jolly Maulit, described access to safe water as critical to public health, education, human dignity and economic development.
She observed that Enugu’s water challenges were not caused by a lack of water resources but by geological conditions, infrastructure gaps and the need for integrated water resource management.
Maulit urged stakeholders to move beyond dependence on isolated boreholes by investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, professionally managed utilities and evidence-based planning capable of delivering sustainable water services.
According to her, long-term water security depends on strong institutions, skilled professionals, sustainable financing, effective partnerships and sound governance.
She commended the Mbah administration 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 also advocated innovative financing models involving government, development partners and the private sector to strengthen water service delivery.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA), Mrs. Chika Mbah, urged innovators to focus on unlocking the enormous water and development potential of rural communities alongside urban centres.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Ben-Collins Ndu Jr., said the summit was designed to engage young people in developing innovative solutions to the state’s water supply challenges while encouraging public ownership of ongoing water sector reforms.
He added that the government would evaluate viable ideas presented during the summit and incorporate suitable proposals into its water development programmes where applicable.
Ndu explained that while no specific completion timeline had been set for ongoing projects, the administration remained committed to delivering safe and potable water through careful planning and strict adherence to public health and safety standards.
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