The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, in partnership with the African Development Bank, AfDB, and the Borno State Government, has unveiled the Maiduguri Water Rehabilitation and Development Master Plan, a long-term strategy to strengthen water supply and resilience in the state capital.
The first phase of the project, running from 2025 to 2026, will cost $10 million and is expected to provide safe and reliable water to 436,000 people. By 2030, more than 2.5 million residents and displaced persons are projected to benefit. A separate Bolori I project (2026–2030) will cover an additional 270,000 to 300,000 people.
Speaking at a high-level roundtable in Abuja, ICRC’s Head of Delegation in Nigeria, Doris El Doueihy, described the plan as an investment-ready roadmap for scaling up water infrastructure in a city where demand already outpaces supply. She warned that flooding in 2024 exposed the vulnerability of existing systems and stressed the need for infrastructure that can endure climate shocks.
AfDB’s Director-General, Abdul Kamara, highlighted the bank’s contribution of over $800 million to water and sanitation projects in Nigeria in the past decade, reaching more than 8 million people. He noted that 1.6 million people in Borno have already benefitted from AfDB-supported programmes, nearly a quarter of them in Maiduguri.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Tijjani Bukar, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building resilient systems. He outlined priorities such as universal access to potable water, durable infrastructure, and community-driven solutions, while pledging measures against vandalism and greater budget transparency.
The initiative comes amid looming floods and water scarcity risks, aiming to secure safe, climate-resilient water services for one of Nigeria’s most vulnerable urban populations.
Comments