AfDB approves $124.2mn loan to develop access to safe drinking water in Nigeria

The African Development Bank's board of directors approved an amount of around USD 124.2 million loan to finance the Urban Water Sector Reform and Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Nigeria. The above-mentioned amount also includes an African Growing Together Fund loan of about USD 20 million.

"The project will particularly contribute to improving the living conditions of the communities in the project area. Involving these communities in the public awareness and marketing activities, will increase the project's ownership and ensure they pay for the water supply and sanitation services," the Senior Director at the African Development Bank's Nigeria Regional Office, Ebrima Faal said.

The project that combines 'hard' water, sanitation and environmental protection infrastructure with 'soft' analytical and institutional reform support, aligns with the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy and its High 5s priority areas, the Integrated Water Resources Management Policy. The loan will also help to install sanitation infrastructure for schools, hospitals and markets.

On completion, the project will benefit the 1.3 million residents of Akure City and vicinities. At the Federal level, the project's Urban Water Reform component will establish a water and sanitation investment program that would contribute to scaling up of the National WASH Action plan 2018-2030.