Borno

Efforts to address Maiduguri’s chronic water shortages received a major boost on Wednesday as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) pledged to support the city’s Urban Water Supply Masterplan. The initiative, formally endorsed by the Borno State Government in 2023, outlines a phased roadmap to rehabilitate and expand Maiduguri’s water system to meet the needs of an estimated 2.5 million residents by 2030. At a high-level roundtable in Abuja, co-convened by the ICRC and AfDB in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Borno State Government, about 40 participants — including senior government officials, humanitarian actors, development partners, and technical experts — deliberated on ways to fast-track implementation. The Secretary to the Borno State Government, Malam Bukar Tijani, represented Governor Babagana Zulum at the meeting. Read Also: ICRC Registers Over 284,000 Missing Persons Globally, Raises Concern Over Nigeria “Maiduguri’s water system is a lifeline that must be secured,” said ICRC Head of Delegation in Nigeria, Doris El Doueihy. “In today’s world of protracted crises, we must respond to urgent needs while investing in long-term resilience.” Years of conflict and climate shocks have strained the city’s limited infrastructure. Between 2006 and 2021, Maiduguri’s population more than doubled, forcing many households to rely on unsafe and costly private boreholes. Floods in 2024 further exposed the system’s vulnerability to climate change. In response, the ICRC has supported repairs and rehabilitation of boreholes and urban water facilities, improving access for over 150,000 residents. The new masterplan aims to scale these efforts, focusing on sustainability and resilience. AfDB Director General for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara, underscored the link between water, peace, and development. “Through initiatives like this, we aim to help northern Nigeria move from recurring humanitarian crises to a future of stability, resilience and sustainable development,” he said, noting that the bank has invested more than $805 million in water and sanitation projects across Nigeria over the past decade. At the close of the roundtable, stakeholders issued a joint call for urgent action. The Borno State Government committed to set up a steering committee, mobilize resources, and work with development partners to deliver the masterplan.