Business
Vision 20:2020: Nigeria Must Invest In Water Sector — UNICEF
Nigeria must increase its investment in the water and sanitation sector in order to meet its vision 20:2020 document goal, a UNICEF official said.
Dr Suomi Sakai, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, made the observation in Abuja recently at the Presidential Summit on Water.
She said Nigeria also needed to scale up investment in the sector to meet the MDGs by 2015.
“ Unless the country rapidly scales up efforts, Nigeria is not likely to meet the MDGs target seven (7) on water and sanitation.
“A lot more will be required for Nigeria to live up to its full potential,’’ Sakai said, and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sustain the good work he had started in the sector.
“Private sector partnership will help but government’s concerted effort is necessary. UNICEF has been and will continue to partner with government to implement its programmes.
“Domestic water requirement may be small compared to other water use but it is critical,” she said.
Sakai advised that the water programme should not be buried under a “big” water segment, such as agriculture or industry.
In a goodwill message, Ms Ebele Okeke, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Ambassador in Nigeria, urged the president to set up a Presidential Action Committee on Sanitation to move the sector forward.
She said if the committee was established and funded, coupled with robust monitoring, Nigeria would be on its way to winning the war against problems posed by the lack of sanitation.
Okeke decried the low rate of sanitation in institutions of higher learning in the country.
She noted that there was only one toilet for every 500 students and described the situation as 10 times below the standard of one toilet for every 50 students.
“Lack of improved toilets with hand-washing facilities in schools affects educational enrolment, retention and performance and girls are particularly affected.
“Poor sanitation is a contributing factor in Nigeria’s low girl net attendance ratio of 59.1 per cent as compared to 64.9 for boys,’’ the ambassador said.
According to her, the benefit of proper sanitation surpasses the cost, including health care cost, and loss of productivity.
Also speaking, Mr Joe Lambongang, Country Representative, WaterAid in Nigeria, called for actions to address the challenges in the sector.
Represented by Ms Junita During, WaterAid Head of Governance, Lambongang urged the Federal Government to implement plans in the roadmap document.
“I, therefore, urge that the plans being unveiled today reflect this reality not the reality of the privileged and the elite but that of the poorest and most vulnerable.
“In keeping with your promise of transformation, the people of this great country know that they can look to you to promote, provide and protect their rights to safe water and adequate sanitation, ’’he said.
Prof. Anwar Huq from the University of Maryland, U.S., presented a paper on “Water, Climate and Human Health: Cholera an example for other water-borne pathogens”.
The summit will continue on Tuesday with the inauguration of new management teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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