Abuja: Nigeria and Hungary have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and technical cooperation in water management, innovation, and climate resilience. The agreement, signed between the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and Nigeria’s National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, was a key highlight of the Nigeria-Hungary Water Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum, attended by senior government officials, engineers, and researchers, aims to deepen collaboration in water management, technology development, and sustainable solutions to water-related challenges. Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, stated that the agreement marked a major step in improving technical capacity, research collaboration, and innovation in water resources development.
Utsev highlighted that the partnership would support advanced training for Nigerian engineers, promote joint research on water security and climate adaptation, and enhance expertise exchange in flood control and basin management. The renewed engagement builds on an earlier MoU signed in November 2016, which established a framework for knowledge sharing and cooperation in water management.
He also pointed out that Nigeria faces complex water challenges worsened by rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change, including flooding and limited access to safe water in rural communities. The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has prioritized water security and sanitation as part of national development and poverty reduction strategies.
Utsev stated that the collaboration with Hungary complements ongoing projects such as the River Basin Revitalisation Programme and river training and flood control works along the River Niger and other basins. Hungary’s experience in water engineering, wastewater treatment, and flood management would greatly benefit Nigeria’s reforms and infrastructure development in the water sector.
Earlier, the Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. L³r¡nd Endreffy, said the forum was a milestone in the partnership between both nations and reaffirmed Hungary’s readiness to share its expertise and technology with Nigeria. He noted that periodic flooding continued to cause serious disruptions, especially in densely populated and flood-prone areas, while access to safe drinking water and sanitation remained a core development priority.
reffy added that Hungary’s expertise in flood management, water engineering, and treatment technologies could complement Nigeria’s experience and support its progress in strengthening the water sector. The Nigeria-Hungary Water Forum seeks to address Nigeria’s water challenges by showcasing Hungarian innovations through technical sessions and case studies on water security and rural supply. The event aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation, promote technology exchange, and renew both countries’ commitment to sustainable water management.