By John Moses
Nigeria has officially commissioned the long-awaited Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, an ambitious $470 million infrastructure scheme designed to expand potable water access across the capital.
The project, which began in 2017, was inaugurated on Monday by President Bola Tinubu as part of activities marking his second year in office. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expressed elation at its completion, praising Tinubu for fast-tracking the delivery within two years of his administration.
“This project was awarded eight years ago, but it is your administration that has completed it,” Wike told the President during the commissioning ceremony. “This demonstrates your clear commitment to urban infrastructure and improving lives.”
The initiative was executed in partnership with the African Development Initiative, with the Chinese government providing 85% of the funding. The remaining 15% was jointly contributed by Nigeria’s Federal Government and the FCT Administration.
The works covered the installation of water supply loops one, two, five, and six—key elements of the Abuja Master Plan. In total, the project included 425 kilometres of ductile iron pipes, with 256 km for the main supply lines and 169 km for distribution networks. The infrastructure spans both northern and southern development corridors of the city.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, said the newly completed system would significantly boost access to clean water in urban Abuja.
President Tinubu, while inaugurating the project, described it as a “monumental effort” and reaffirmed that access to clean water is a basic human right and a pillar of national development.
“Water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is essential to public health, urban growth and economic sustainability,” Tinubu said, commending Wike for “leading with dedication and genuine concern for citizens.”
Wike also revealed that the government had advanced procurement plans to expand water supply to satellite towns such as Bwari, Kubwa, and Karu, with a view to commissioning those projects by 2026.
State Minister for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, praised Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” for revitalising long-dormant infrastructure plans. “What was once only a blueprint is now a tangible reality benefiting our communities,” she said.
The National Assembly was also applauded for its supportive role in ensuring funding and oversight of the project.
