RismadarVoice Reporters, May 3, 2026
A Nigerian-led Pan-African delegation has called on the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to depoliticise water access and prioritise practical interventions – such as borehole drilling, as discussions intensified at the 12th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Addis Ababa.
The delegation, operating under the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission and led by Stephen Ben-Joel, emphasised the need to align development efforts with science-driven, community-focused solutions capable of generating employment and stimulating economic growth.
Addressing participants at the forum, Ben-Joel redirected attention to what he described as a fundamental human necessity water arguing that access to clean water must be treated as a humanitarian imperative rather than a political tool.
“The human body is over 70 per cent water. Access to clean water is not a political bargaining chip; it is a basic human need that must be prioritised,” he said.
Beyond advocacy, the mission highlighted ongoing interventions across several African communities, including the funding of borehole drilling and water treatment projects. According to the delegation, additional initiatives are scheduled for rollout during Africa Day celebrations in Abuja later this month.
The group also called for greater institutional openness within the AU, urging continental bodies to partner with organisations demonstrating measurable impact at the grassroots level rather than those primarily focused on securing funding through proposals.
Ben-Joel noted that the delegation’s participation at the forum reflects its broader commitment to advancing the goals of Agenda 2063, the AU’s long-term blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.
