The Delegation led by the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), H.E. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, as part of the series of country support and advocacy Missions to accelerate the implementation of PIDACC/NB, with the national Authorities of the nine (9) member countries, visited Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 17th to 23rd May, 2026. On their arrival, the Executive Secretary and his Delegation were warmly welcomed by the NBA National Focal Structure Coordinator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accompanied by his closest staff.

Thus, on 18th May, 2026, the Executive Secretary and his Delegation were, on behalf of the Honourable Minister who could not make it, received in audience by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the NBA Supervising Ministry in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This audience is part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s stage in a series of Country advocacy Missions aimed to accelerate the pace of the implementation of the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/NB 2019–2027), funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its partners to the tune of more than 232 million US dollars (USD) for the benefit of the nine (9) NBA member countries.

The purpose of this Country Mission is to engage with the relevant stakeholders and explore with them realistic and acceptable measures to significantly improve the implementation pace of the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria Component whose performance, to date, remains below expectations, with less than twenty months remaining before it closes on 31st December, 2027.

Deeply touched by the warm welcome, the Executive Secretary expressed the gratitude of the whole Delegation for the arrangements made and the facilities provided for an excellent conduct of the Mission. The NBA Executive Secretary took the opportunity to:
- Present the level of implementation of the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria Component, and;
- Express the hope that, following the Mission, a consistent Action Plan accompanied by a clear and concise Roadmap be agreed upon by both Parties for an effective implementation of the community and multi-purpose infrastructures planned under the Programme, by the end of June 2027.

In the presence of the Permanent Secretary to the NBA Supervising Minister, the NBA Executive Secretary also expressed his deep gratitude to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the vital role it has played and continues to play for sustainable and resilient development in the Niger Basin.

The Executive Secretariat added that the Mission also includes meetings with other relevant NBA national Authorities in the Federal Republic of Nigeria to:
- Brief them on the NBA’s governance and the prospects regarding the preparation and holding, in 2026, of the 13th Summit Conference of the NBA Heads of State and Government;
- Reiterate his deep gratitude for the Federal Republic of Nigeria’ sustained contributions for a well-governed NBA, which is highly performant in fulfilling the mission entrusted to it by its member countries;
- Receive their informed advice and guidance on the process of the operationalisation of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Fund and the Regional Early Warning System in the Niger Basin;
- Have their strategic guidance to be taken into consideration in defining the NBA’s development Actions in the Nigerian part of the Niger Basin and across the entire Basin, with a view to laying the foundations for the sustainable and peaceful management of the Basin’s natural resources, and a fair and equitable sharing of the expected benefits.

The Permanent Secretary thanked and commended the NBA Executive Secretary for his commitment and various initiatives for the successful implementation of PIDACC/NB and mainly for the new impetus he has brought to the management of the intergovernmental Institution. She then reassured the Mission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s determination to work towards a significant improvement in the performance of the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria Component, as early as 2026. To this end, she committed the NBA’ Supervising Ministry to even closer monitoring of the Programme, supported by weekly reports which will henceforth be submitted to her by the Programme’s National and Strategic Coordinators. She informed the NBA Delegation that an Ad Hoc Committee of three Experts was established to support the National Programme Coordinating Unit in improving its performance and in contributing to “regreening” its key indicators.

The Permanent Secretary informed the Delegation of the Supervising Minister’s availability to respond to any requests aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Programme’s acceleration Action Plan, both in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and at the regional level.

The audience concluded on a note of shared satisfaction, hope and firm commitment from both Authorities to spare no effort for the effective and timely construction of the community and multi-purpose infrastructures planned under the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria Component, the physical execution period of which shall not exceed six months for community works and twelve months for multi-purpose infrastructures. The two Authorities also agreed to meet again at the end of the Mission for a debriefing session on the main resulting conclusions and recommendations.

During its visit, the Delegation was also received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria congratulated the Executive Secretary on the organization of the Mission and assured the Delegation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s continued commitment to supporting the NBA activities.

The Delegation also held a very productive working session with the African Development Bank Group’s Country Office in Abuja. The session, which took place in a very cordial atmosphere, concluded with renewed commitments from both sides to significantly accelerate the pace of implementing PIDACC/NB-Nigeria.

Also, the NBA Delegation was received by ARC. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) who welcomed the visit, viewing it as a source of motivation for NIHSA in its collaboration with the NBA Executive Secretariat, in general, and with the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria National Coordinating Unit, in particular. The PIDACC/NB-Nigeria Focal Point within NIHSA, Engr. John A. GBADEGESIN, took the opportunity to present the status of the implementation of the Agreement signed between NIHSA and PIDACC/NB-Nigeria, while recommending capacity building, improved communication with the PIDACC/NB-Nigeria National Coordinating Unit and an increase in the number of Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) in the Nigerian part of the Niger Basin. In response, the Executive Secretary suggested exploring the possibility of meeting part of the additional DCP requirements by reallocating the financial resources initially earmarked for activities that can no longer be implemented by the end of the current phase of PIDACC/NB-Nigeria.

Mr. George N. Stanley, Director of the International Economic Relations Department at the Ministry of Finance, accompanied by several of his staff, also received the NBA Delegation. The discussions focused on the operationalization of the RCCAF/NB, one of the main expected results of the current phase of PIDACC/NB, the regular payment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s contribution to the NBA annual budget and the holding of the 13th NBA Summit of Heads of State and Government (SHSG).

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Parties to commit to improving communication and share reports and information on the implementation of PIDACC/NB-Nigeria. The Team of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation also invited the Ministry of Finance to appoint two Officers to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee established by the NBA Supervising Ministry, in order to accelerate the implementation of PIDACC/NB-Nigeria. Strategic avenues for moving forward towards the holding of the 13th NBA/SHSG Session were also explored.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Abuja also received the NBA Delegation. At this step, the Executive Secretary expressed the NBA’s gratitude to the IsDB for the opportunity provided by the visit to present both the NBA and PIDACC/NB. The Executive Secretary then expressed the hope that the NBA-IsDB partnership be strengthened and invited the IsDB to participate in: (i) the upcoming sessions of the NBA Technical and Financial Partners’ Advisory Committee and (ii) the process for the preparation and financing the second phase of PIDACC/NB. Following the visit, both Parties agreed to continue discussions for deepening and consolidating areas for partnership.