AfDB, Ondo govt, AFD launch $222.9m Akure water supply, sanitation project
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), in partnership with the Ondo State Government and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has commenced the Nigeria Urban Water Sector Reform and Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project, a $222.9 million initiative aimed at expanding access to safe and sustainable water services in the state.
The project, which was formally flagged off at a groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, is financed through $124.2 million from the African Development Bank Group, a $59.3 million contribution from AFD, and a counterpart commitment of $39.4 million from the Ondo State Government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, described the project as a major milestone in the state’s development agenda. He said access to clean water was a fundamental right and noted that the initiative would support water and agricultural modernisation, improve public health, create jobs, and enhance food security across the state.
The Director-General for Nigeria at the African Development Bank, Dr Abdul Kamara, said the project represented a strategic investment in Ondo State’s future. According to him, the intervention would strengthen critical infrastructure, advance public health, and promote inclusive growth, while translating development priorities into measurable benefits for communities.
The project will involve the rehabilitation and expansion of the Akure water supply system, the establishment of modern sanitation facilities, and the construction of a faecal sludge treatment plant. It will also support broader urban water supply and sanitation reforms at the federal level and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ondo State Water Corporation through improved management systems, tariff reforms, and pro-poor service delivery.
Additional components include hygiene promotion, environmental health initiatives, faecal sludge management, and the development of a comprehensive sanitation and wastewater management plan aligned with the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan (2018–2030).
Also speaking, the Ondo State Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Ayodele Akande, said the project would transform living conditions for residents. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help position Ondo State as a model for effective public utility management.
When completed, the initiative is expected to directly benefit more than 1.3 million residents of Akure, Ondo City, and surrounding communities, including Idanre, Igbara-Oke, Ilara Mokin, Ibule-Soro, and Ipogun, by improving access to potable water and sanitation services.
