The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in Nigeria is a government agency responsible for overseeing the country’s development, management, and regulation of water resources and sanitation services. It was formed in 1976 to address the challenges of water scarcity and inadequate sanitation facilities in Nigeria.
The ministry’s key functions include policy formulation, project implementation, and coordination with other government agencies and stakeholders to ensure sustainable and equitable water resource distribution and adequate sanitation services to the Nigerian population.
READ ALSO: List Of Ministers Of State Of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) In Nigeria (2011-Present)
List Of Ministers Of Water Resources And Sanitation In Nigeria From 1999 Till Date
No | Name | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mohammed Bello Kaliel | 1999 – 13 June 2001 | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
2 | Muktar Shagari | 13 June 2001 – 10 January 2007 | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
3 | Ahmed Bello | January 2007 – May 2007 | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
4 | Sarah Reng Ochekpe | 12 July 2011 – 29 May 2015 | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
5 | Suleiman Hussein Adamu | 2015 - 20023 | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
6 | Hon. Joseph Utsev | October 2023 - present | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
Departments Under The Ministry Of Water Resources And Sanitation In Nigeria
The ministry is organized into 14 different departments:
- Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services
- Water Quality Control & Sanitation
- Hydrology
- Dams and Reservoir Operations
- River Basin Operations and Inspectorate
- Irrigation & Drainage
- Finance and Accounts
- Procurement
- Human Resource Management
- General Services
- Internal Audit
- Reform Co-ordination and Service Improvement
- Special Duties
- Water Supply and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
READ ALSO: List Of Ministers Of State For Water Resources And Sanitation (1999-Present)
Who is the Current Minister Of Water Resources And Sanitation In Nigeria?
Hon. Joseph Terlumun Utsev is the current Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation in Nigeria. He was appointed in October 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.
Born on December 2, 1980, in Buruku Local Government Area, Benue State, Utsev began his higher education at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering in 2004, finishing as the top student in his class.
He then continued his studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, earning a Master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering in 2007 and a PhD in Environmental Engineering in 2011.
He has published about 40 research papers in respected national and international journals, demonstrating his deep knowledge in his field.
Utsev was the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment in Benue State from 2017 to 2018, where he improved water supply and managed flood risks.
In 2020, he became the Executive Director of Engineering at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) and oversaw projects such as dams, bridges, and irrigation systems.
Utsev also served as the first Rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Wannune, Benue State. He is a registered civil engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers.
Now that he’s the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Utsev is responsible for improving water supply and sanitation across Nigeria.