The Niger Basin Authority (NBA) with the support of GIZ aims to enhance the Early Warning System (EWS) for floods and low-water risks in Nigeria, specifically targeting the cities of Lokoja, Kogi State and Yola in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Following the recruitment of LINS consultant by GIZ for the evaluation of the Flood Early Warning System (EWS) in Nigeria, a scoping meeting was scheduled on Monday 15th December, 2025 being the first activity of the signed contract in Abuja, Nigeria.
The main objective of the one-day event was to conduct a detailed assessment of the EWS for floods and low-water events in Lokoja and Yola and to develop flood risk and vulnerability maps respectively.

The other specific objectives of the scoping meeting includes; (1) Official introduction of LINS consultant to the key stakeholders (NBA, NFS, GIZ and other invited stakeholders); (2) Ensure a common understanding of the terms of references; (3) Validate and refine the methodology proposed by the consultant; (4) Clarify the roles and responsibilities of each actor; (5) Confirm the schedule and logistical arrangements; (6) Identify potential constraints and propose solutions.
In the meeting were the representatives of the NBA Executive Secretariat; Mr. Bachir Tanimoun . Alkali and Mr. Walter Bamidele Olatunji; the representatives of GIZ, Mr. Adam Samba and Dr.
Boko, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation represented by the Director of Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services (WRPTTS), Engr. A.A. Adenopo and his team, the representatives of LINS Consult led by the Managing Director and his team, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) and National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA).

In his address, the Director of Water Resources Planning and Technical Support Services (WRPTSS), Engr. A.A. Adenopo who also double as the Coordinator of NB-NFS of Nigeria expressed his appreciation to the Executive Secretariat of Niger Basin Authority and the management of GIZ for their support to the EWS project in Nigeria. He also affirms the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation commitment and roles for the implementation and success of the project.
Several questions, observations and contributions were made into the methodology presented by the LINS Consult and it was agreed that LINS Consult should update its methodology and resubmit it to the Nigeria NFS office not later than Friday, 19th December, 2025 for final validation. Some of the stakeholders in the meeting assured the consultant of the provision of all necessary and relevant data and information that would be needed during the course of its assignments.

The Representatives of the NB-ITTAS implementing countries and some regional institutions convened for a Regional Workshop on Governance Mechanism for Cooperation on Conjunctive Water Resources Management (CWM) from 10th to 11th December 2025 at the Rockview Hotel Royale, Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The regional workshop was part of Component 4 of the GEF-Project (2019–2025), titled
“Improving IWRM, knowledge-based management and governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (NB-ITTAS)” aimed at improving knowledgebased management, governance and resource conservation of the Niger River Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifers (ITTAS), to support Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for the benefit of communities and the resilience of ecosystems.

This workshop was organized by UNESCO through its Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management (RC-IRBM) based in Kaduna, Nigeria, and provided an opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding of CWM and to advance collective reflections on enhanced cooperation within the NB-ITTAS region on CWM.

The opening of this two-day regional workshop was placed under the chairmanship of Prof. Joseph Terumlum Utsev, the Honorable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation of Nigeria, ably represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, and with the participation of representatives from Niger Basin Authority Executive Secretariat in the persons of Mr. Bachir Tanimoun Alkali and M. Walter Bamidele Olatunji. Also in attendance were the NBA-National Focal Structures from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad, as well as other key stakeholders such as the OSS and GEFUNEP.

At the end of the regional workshop, the participants and technical partners were able to review progress achieved, identify some gaps and needs, and discuss future opportunities for cooperation and reaffirmed the relevance of CWM as an integrated approach to address hydrological, environmental, and socio-economic challenges in the region.

They confirmed a shared understanding of the key dimensions of CWM including both planning aspects—such as interactions between surface water and groundwater—and field-level applications, notably managed aquifer recharge, protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and water quality considerations.

In conclusion, the participants in the workshop also expressed their commitment to promote the CWM approach, to support its progressive implementation and to mobilize the necessary resources in line with national priorities.

As a side event of his participation in the meeting of the Ministers of Mines, Energy and Petroleum of the Sahel States Alliance (AES), Chad and Togo in Niamey, Mr. Kanabé Marcelin PASSALE, the Honourable Minister of Water and Energy of the Republic of Chad, visited the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) on Thursday 11th December, 2025. He was accompanied by His Excellency the Ambassador of Chad to the Republic of Niger, which reflects the strategic importance his country attaches to both the Institution and the integrated management of shared natural resources for a sustainable socio-economic development in the Niger Basin.

The visit is a follow-up to the 44th Ordinary Session of the NBA Council of Ministers held on 5th December, 2025 in Ouagadougou, a Session which was attended by the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad. In a friendly atmosphere, the Minister of Water and Energy of Chad acknowledged the quality of the work done by the Executive Secretary, while praising his leadership and efforts for remobilising both the member countries’ Authorities and the NBA partners and other stakeholders. He then urged all Directors, Experts and support staff to support the Executive Secretary in successfully fulfilling his mandate, which is also theirs, in the service of the Niger Basin’s nine member countries and populations.

Message of unwavering strategic support to NBA by the Government of Chad

The Minister of Water and Energy of Chad reaffirmed the strategic support of the Chadian Government to the Executive Secretary and to NBA as a whole, emphasising the importance of institutional stability and the collective commitment of member countries to the success of the Authority’s actions. To this end, he stated that Chad remains strongly committed, alongside the other member countries, to accompanying and supporting efforts for making the NBA high performing and empowered to carry out large essential, multi-purpose, common and/or common interest transformative investments related to water for the profit of the Niger Basin member countries.

Deep gratitude from the Executive Secretary

Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, the NBA Executive Secretary, took the opportunity to once again express his deep gratitude to the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad for his active participation, as well as his contributions and guidance in finalising and adopting the important Resolutions resulting from the proceedings of the 44th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of 5th December, 2025 in Ouagadougou. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the NBA Supervising Minister in Chad who, despite his busy schedule, was able to make a visit to the “NBA house” a priority, to galvanise the Executive Secretariat’ staff and to show them his close strategic support.

The Executive Secretary emphasised that the visit of the Supervising Minister, together with His Excellency the Ambassador in Niamey, is a token of Chad’s deep commitment to the Institution and to the success of the NBA revitalisation process underway.

Reaffirmation of Chad’s commitment to the NBA

The Minister gave assurances that his country intends to honour all its commitments to the NBA in the very near future. He reaffirmed Chad’s willingness to actively contribute to all the initiatives currently being undertaken by the Executive Secretary.

Visit to the construction site of the new NBA Headquarters in Niamey

Following the visit, the Chadian delegation and the Executive Secretary, accompanied by the Directors and some Experts, visited the site where the foundation stone for the construction of the new NBA Headquarters was laid on 14th December, 2014.
This symbolic visit highlighted the importance of this major project for the Institution’s influence and smooth running. The Supervising Authority urged to launch construction efforts as from the first quarter of 2026 in order to provide the NBA with a modern Headquarters commensurate with the scope of its missions.

A symbol of regional solidarity

By this strategic visit, following that of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers - the NBA Supervising Minister in Burkina Faso – from 28th to 31st August, 2025, Chad is sending a strong political signal for enhanced regional cooperation in the Niger Basin, in a spirit of solidarity and commitment, in line with the member countries’ Shared Vision and guidance, for sustainably improving the livelihoods of the180 million inhabitants and the state of ecosystems in the Basin.

The Council of Ministers of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) held its 44th Ordinary Session on December 5, 2025, in Ouagadougou. This strategic meeting focused on institutional revitalization, enhancing financial transparency, and strengthening cooperation among the nine member countries.

The Ordinary Session was chaired by Mr. Roger BARO, Minister of Environment, Water, and Sanitation of Burkina Faso, who serves as the NBA Supervising Minister in Burkina Faso and Chairman of the NBA Council of Ministers. The meeting was convened as part of the ongoing institutional revitalization process for our common institution, aligning with the reaffirmed commitment and guidelines of the Heads of State and Government of the nine NBA member countries. This commitment aims to achieve two key objectives: undertake essential institutional transformations to ensure the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) is sovereign and effective in planning and implementing its interventions; and advance national and trans-boundary priorities for integrated, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development related to water and other natural resources in the Niger Basin.

Effective high-level mobilization of member countries, development partners, and other stakeholders

Ministerial delegations from all nine member countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad were in attendance at this strategic meeting.

Also in attendance at the 44th Ordinary Session of the NBA Council of Ministers were: (i) Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs), including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burkina Faso, GIZ, the Water Resources Management Centre (CGRE) of the Economic Community of West African States, the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Volta Basin Authority (ABV), the Mono Basin Authority (ABM), the Global Water Partnership in West Africa (GWP/WA), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), Wetlands International, Dam Agencies (Kainji-Jebba, Kandadji, Taoussa), Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, as well as (ii) other stakeholders from the Kadiogo Region and the Special Delegation of the Commune of Ouagadougou, the Regional Coordinating Unit of Users of the Niger Basin’s Natural Resources (RCU), the National Coordinating Unit of Users of the Niger Basin’s Natural Resources (NCU) of Burkina Faso, the Technical Committee of
Experts (TCE), the External Auditors of NBA accounts, the Consultants responsible for updating the Administrative, Financial, and Accounting Procedures Manual and the Procurement Regulations, the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, the 2026-2030 Operational Plan, and Staff of the NBA Executive Secretariat.

This strong, high-level mobilization confirms the clear and reaffirmed commitment of political leaders, supported by Development Partners and other stakeholders, to address the major development challenges in the Niger Basin related to: (i) resilience and adaptation to climate change, (ii) reducing human pressures on natural resources, and (iii) sustainability of water resources and associated ecosystems, (iv) restoring and preserving ecosystems, (v) guaranteeing public safety and security, (vi) establishing blue and green job opportunities for the Basin’s population (over 180 million inhabitants), especially for youth, (vii) planning and implementing transformative structural investments related to water that are of common interest to the member countries.

A Official Opening Ceremony Focused on Solidarity, Sovereignty, and Performance

In his opening address, Mr. Roger BARO, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, highlighted the strategic significance of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), defining it as ‘’a space for solidarity, a diplomatic framework, and lever for regional cohesion’’. He subsequently emphasized the critical need for a coordinated response to the security, environmental, and social challenges within the Basin. The Chairman also welcomed the appointment of the new Executive Secretary, Kocou Armand HOUANYE, on July 24, 2025, and he reaffirmed the strong support and commitment of the Chairman of the NBA Summit of Heads of State and Government, His Excellency Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, President of Burkina Faso, and his entire government, to the Institution. He stressed the importance of the timely payment of financial contributions by member countries to NBA’s annual operating budget. He encouraged the swift operationalization of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Fund (RCCAF/NB).

A Renewed Vision for Optimizing NBA performance

This Ordinary Session is part of the ongoing revitalization process for a high-performing and better-governed NBA, initiated in late July 2025 with the appointment of Executive Secretary, Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE. Its objectives include: (i) planning major regional water-related infrastructure investments; (ii) significantly increasing major water-related infrastructure investments across the Basin, drawing on the successful experiences of other Trans-boundary Basin Organizations (TBOs); (iii) ensuring the equitable representation of the nine countries within the Executive Secretariat and the Regional Coordinating Unit for NBA programmes and projects; (iv) increasing the mobilization of financial resources, including domestic resources secured from within the Basin; and (v) modernizing the management and monitoring tools for water resources and associated ecosystems to support informed decision-making throughout the Basin.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers stated that “Each member country must perceive the existence of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), through equitable access to the benefits of the concrete and visible investments made by NBA in the Niger Basin.”

The Executive Secretary, Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, reiterated his sincere gratitude to the Heads of State and Government, and to the Ministers, for the confidence placed in him to lead the NBA Executive Secretariat. He also commended the willingness of member countries to support the ongoing reforms, as well as the professionalism displayed by the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) in preparing the documents for the Council of Ministers. Additionally, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Technical and Financial Partners for their strong commitment to increasing their already significant support for the NBA’s missions across the nine national territories of the Niger Basin.

Mr. HOUANYE shared the main action areas of his mandate, consolidated within the Niger Basin Authority’s 2026-2030 Strategic and Operational Plans, which aim to transform challenges into levers for regional interventions by the NBA in the Niger Basin. These areas include: (i) Planning and implementation of structural investments to ensure water security in the Niger Basin; (ii) Restoring and preserving ecosystems; (iii) Ensuring effective governance of the NBA; and (iv) Promoting innovative and sustainable mechanisms for NBA action to ensure its institutional and financial visibility. The Executive Secretary reaffirmed his commitment to leading the NBA with rigour, transparency, and focusing on delivering expected results in service to the resilient people of the Basin.

Major Resolutions Adopted for a Shared and Prosperous Future in the Basin

The 44th Ordinary Session of the NBA Council of Ministers concluded with the adoption of ten key resolutions related to the following areas:
- Adoption of the Executive Secretary’s report as at 30th September, 2025;
- Adoption of the External Auditors’ reports on the NBA Executive Secretariat’s accounting and financial management for FY 2024;
- Adoption of the Financial Controller’s reports on the implementation of the NBA Executive Secretariat’s FY 2024 budget and FY 2025 budget as at 30th June 2025;
- Adoption of the revised NBA Administrative, Financial and Accounting Procedural Manual and Procurement Regulations of the NBA Executive Secretariat;
- Adoption of the NBA 2013-2022 Strategic Plan (SP) evaluation results and the new NBA 2026-2030 SP;
- Adoption of the NBA 2026 - 2030 Strategic Plan (SP) and Operational Plan;
- adoption of the NBA 2026 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB);
- The Water Resilience and Enhancement Development Programme, NBA Component (DREVE/NBA);
- The speeding of the implementation of the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/NB);
- Capacity building of the NBA Executive Secretariat.

These guidelines pave the way for strengthened governance and improved institutional, organizational, and financial performance of the NBA.

Towards a Sovereign and Resilient Niger Basin Authority (NBA) Focused on Improving the Well-being of the Niger Basin’s People

With the holding of its 44th Ordinary Session, the NBA Council of Ministers reaffirmed the shared commitment of the nine member countries to building an institution for regional cooperation and integration that is: (i) transparent in its management, (ii) effective in implementing its programmes, (iii) sovereign in mobilizing the resources required for its operation, and (iv) inclusive in addressing the needs of the people.

The member countries issued a solemn appeal to partners to support NBA’s efforts in protecting the natural resources of the Niger Basin and improving the living conditions of its more than 180 million inhabitants.

The 45th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers will be held in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in the fourth quarter of 2026.