The Kano State Government has approved the merger of the Ministry of Water Resources with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in a move aimed at strengthening environmental governance and improving the management of water and climate-related challenges.
The decision, approved by Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was conveyed in an official circular dated June 1, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
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According to the circular, the newly unified ministry will be known as the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change.
The government noted that the integration will help streamline operations and ensure a more cohesive approach to tackling climate change impacts, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and sanitation challenges across the state.
To maintain operational focus, the new ministry will function through two directorates: Directorate of Water Resources and Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.
Each directorate will be headed by a Permanent Secretary, both of whom will report directly to the Commissioner of the ministry, Dr. Dahir M. Hashim.
The circular further directed all departments, agencies, and units previously under the two ministries to realign their operations, reporting structures, and official correspondences in line with the new arrangement.
“The transition process shall take immediate effect, and all relevant stakeholders are expected to cooperate fully to ensure a seamless integration,” the statement read, adding that further guidelines on operational modalities will be communicated in due course.
The state government also urged strict compliance and wide circulation of the directive.
Climate Governance Implications
The merger comes at a time when Kano State, like many parts of northern Nigeria, is grappling with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and increasing pressure on water resources—issues closely linked to climate change.
Experts say the consolidation of environmental and water management functions into a single ministry could improve coordination of climate adaptation strategies, particularly in areas such as irrigation, flood control, waste management, and land restoration.
For a state heavily dependent on agriculture, the move is expected to support more integrated responses to climate-related risks affecting farmers and rural livelihoods.
Agro Climate News reports that this institutional reform aligns with growing calls for stronger, coordinated governance structures to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, water security, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
