By Jordan Walbe.
The Plateau State Government has reaffirmed that water is a fundamental pillar of modern governance and human development, with a commitment to strengthen institutions and infrastructure to expand access to safe, reliable and sustainable water supply.
Governor *Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang* stated this in his keynote address delivered on his behalf by his Deputy, *Hon. Ngo Josephine Piyo*, at the *2-Day National Urban Water Sector Reform Project Coordination and Review Workshop*, held from *28th to 29th September, 2026* at *Crispan Hotel and Suites, Jos*.
The workshop was organized by the *Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Jos Water Services Corporation and the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project*, with funding support from the *French Development Agency, AFD*.
Declaring the workshop open, Governor Mutfwang welcomed delegates to Jos — _“the home of peace, joy and hospitality”_ — describing the gathering as an important national platform that brings together policymakers, water sector professionals, engineers, project managers and development partners to deliberate on access to reliable, safe, affordable and sustainable water.
> _“Water is the lifeblood of economic productivity. As our cities continue to grow rapidly, the pressure on existing water infrastructure and municipal supply networks is becoming increasingly intense. This reality demands that we move beyond conventional approaches and embrace reforms that are strategic, sustainable, accountable and responsive to our growing urban population,”_ Mutfwang said.
> _“Our responsibility as leaders is not simply to provide infrastructure but to build systems that can deliver sufficiently, consistently and sustainably over a long time.”_
*Plateau’s Interventions*
Mutfwang listed critical interventions being pursued through the *Jos Water Services Corporation* to include expansion of municipal reticulation networks across the state, rehabilitation of the *Lamingo and Yakubu Gowon Water Treatment Plants*, and water infrastructure projects in *Mangu, Bokkos, Langtang North, Langtang South and Wase*.
> _“These initiatives demonstrate our determination to ensure that development interventions translate into tangible improvement in the lives of our citizens,”_ he said.
He described the workshop as a platform for accountability, peer learning, technical coordination and strategic re-alignment, urging State Project Implementation Units to engage with openness, critically examine performance indicators, identify bottlenecks and develop realistic strategies to ensure every naira and dollar committed gives maximum value.
> _“The success of any reform programme is ultimately measured not by the number of meetings held or reports produced, but by the impact it has on the lives of citizens,”_ he stressed.
While thanking the Federal Ministry and development partners, he particularly appreciated *AFD* for its sustained technical and financial support and appealed to the agency to simplify administrative processes and expedite issuance of no-objection approvals for ongoing projects.
*Four States, Project Extended To 2028, N2.6bn Counterpart Paid. 
In an interview, the Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, *Hon. Bashir Lawandi Dati*, thanked Governor Mutfwang for approving the hosting of the workshop.
He said Plateau is implementing AFD-funded projects including rehabilitation of Yakubu Gowon and Lamingo treatment plants and reticulation within the Greater Jos Master Plan.
> _“This workshop brings all implementing states together to review performance under the AFD project. It shows His Excellency’s commitment to ensuring Plateau people have access to clean and safe water,”_ Dati said.
The four implementing states are *Enugu, Ondo, Kano and Plateau*.
Dati disclosed that the project, which started about four years ago and was supposed to terminate in December 2026, has now been extended by two years to *2028*.
He also disclosed that the state government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, paid counterpart funding in 2024 and just recently in 2026 paid N2 billion, bringing the total to *N2.6 Billion* paid so far.
> _“We are hoping very soon we will add more as His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is committed to provide sustainable good drinking water to the people of Plateau State. The reticulation project will last for 18 months. Without this extension we would have had serious issues, but now we will be able to finish completely. After this project, water scarcity in Plateau will be history,”_ he assured.
Also speaking, the representative of the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, *Engr. Kasim Mohammed Nafi’u*, said the workshop is very important as it allows the four states to assess progress, deliberate on challenges and chart the way forward to meet project development objectives.
He said the Plateau State Government has committed N2.6 billion as counterpart fund, but more funds would be needed for taxes and compensations to avoid leaving debts after completion.
> _“After the tea break we will commence the technical aspect where all four states will make presentations. We tell ourselves the plain truth. There is no politics in it. We have technical experts and administrative people here. Everybody is here,”_ Nafi’u said.
He commended the Deputy Governor for declaring the workshop open.
The workshop continues with technical sessions, presentations by state implementation units and deliberations aimed at shaping the future of urban water supply in Nigeria.
