By Juliet Ezeh
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project aimed at strengthening irrigation development, improving dam safety, and expanding sustainable power generation to boost food security and economic growth across the country.
The project was officially launched during the second meeting of the SPIN Project Steering Committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
SPIN project to strengthen irrigation and water management
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the initiative would improve sustainable water management, increase agricultural productivity, and expand energy access nationwide.
Utsev described the SPIN Project as a flagship programme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to strengthen food security, economic resilience, and infrastructure development.
According to him, the project will improve dam safety, expand irrigation systems, and support hydropower generation across participating states.
He explained that the programme would also help Nigeria transition from rain-fed agriculture to climate-resilient irrigation systems capable of supporting year-round farming and increased food production.
The minister also highlighted the role of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in ensuring participatory irrigation management, noting that farmers would take part in operating and maintaining irrigation facilities to ensure sustainability.
He commended states that have already met the participation requirements and urged others to take necessary steps to join the programme.
Power ministry backs initiative
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmouda Mamman, reaffirmed the ministry’s support for the project.
Adelabu said the initiative aligns with the Tinubu administration’s priorities of strengthening food security, improving energy access, and promoting economic growth.
He noted that the project would enhance dam safety, boost irrigation development, and support hydropower generation while expanding access to reliable electricity.
World Bank highlights impact of previous irrigation project
In his goodwill message, the World Bank Global Director for Water, Saroj Kumar Jha, said the new project builds on the achievements of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, which reached more than 1.7 million people and expanded irrigation to over 43,000 hectares of farmland before it ended in 2025.
Jha said the SPIN Project would further strengthen irrigation development, improve water management institutions, promote hydropower development, and attract private sector investment into irrigation and agricultural value chains.
He added that the programme aims to rehabilitate about 40,000 hectares of irrigated land and improve dam safety and water storage management across Nigeria’s more than 400 dams.
World Bank outlines Nigeria partnership framework
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said recent economic reforms by the Tinubu administration have helped stabilise the economy and position Nigeria for sustainable growth and job creation.
According to him, the bank’s new Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria (2026–2032) will focus on job creation, water security, food security, and energy development.
He added that the framework would increase engagement with state governments and mobilise private sector investment.
Stakeholders attend steering committee meeting
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Umobong, who also serves as Secretary of the Steering Committee, presented a report on the committee’s activities since its inauguration.
The National Project Coordinator for SPIN, Engr. Ipinlaye Olaiya, also delivered a presentation on the project’s implementation progress.
The meeting was attended by representatives of state governors, including those of Plateau, Borno, and Gombe states, commissioners of water resources and agriculture, development partners, chairmen and managing directors of River Basin Development Authorities, and other stakeholders in the water sector.
Highlights of the event included the presentation and discussion of the SPIN Project’s 2026 budget and work plan, panel sessions with the World Bank, and the official launch of the initiative.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.