As part of the 2025 World Water Day celebrations, the Federal Government has commissioned a solar-powered water facility at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kubwa, Abuja, to improve water access for corps members and camp officials.
Speaking at the inauguration on Saturday, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing water and sanitation under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Utsev emphasized the importance of clean water at the NYSC camp, noting that thousands of corps members pass through the facility every service year.
“This project will significantly improve access to clean water, promote hygiene, and enhance overall health within the camp,” he said. He added that the initiative aligns with the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, which aims to improve sanitation nationwide.
The minister also highlighted the theme of the 2025 World Water Day, Glacier Preservation, stressing the link between glacier loss, rising sea levels, and water shortages that affect Nigeria. He urged corps members and officials to maintain the facility for long-term sustainability.
NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunke Nafiu, represented by Alhaji Jimkashi Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Planning, Research, and Policy, acknowledged that water shortages have been a longstanding challenge in NYSC camps. He described the new facility as a major step toward solving the problem.
“This intervention is a testament to the impact of collaboration between government agencies. It highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing national development challenges,” Abdullahi stated.
He assured that NYSC management would continue to support initiatives that enhance the well-being of corps members while urging proper maintenance of the facility.
World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, raises awareness about global water challenges. In sub-Saharan Africa, 387 million people still lack access to safe water, a crisis expected to worsen as the population grows to 2.5 billion by 2050.
