Sunday May 11, 2025 |
The federal government has officially inaugurated the Project Steering Committee for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, a $500 million initiative aimed at overhauling the country’s irrigation and hydropower infrastructure to improve food and water security.
At the committee’s inaugural meeting held in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev stated that the SPIN project is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The project will integrate water resources management, expand irrigation development, and boost hydropower generation across 17 eligible states.
Prof. Utsev explained that SPIN is a collaborative effort between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the World Bank. It builds on the achievements of the soon-to-be-concluded Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, which successfully rehabilitated over 32,000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure and strengthened rural Water User Associations (WUAs).
“SPIN is a strategic step forward in actualising the national targets of irrigating 500,000 hectares of farmland, generating 30 gigawatts of sustainable power, and strengthening resilience against floods, droughts, and climate change,” Utsev said.
The Minister said 34 states initially expressed interest in the project, but only 17 met the strict eligibility requirements, including enacting Water User Association laws, establishing budgetary support for WUAs, and providing counterpart funding.
These states will participate through focusing on Federal Government-managed River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) schemes in collaboration with states or targeting state-owned irrigation schemes with demonstrated readiness.
The project comprises four key components: Institutional Strengthening, Irrigation Modernisation, Dam Safety and Operational Improvements, and Effective Project Management.
Utsev also commended the SPIN Interim Project Preparatory Team for laying the groundwork over 15 months, including extensive field assessments and the development of operational documents such as the Project Appraisal Document, Implementation Manual, and the 18-month Work Plan.
He emphasised that the Steering Committee, chaired by himself and co-chaired by the Minister of Power, is the apex policy and decision-making body for the project, with membership drawn from key ministries, state commissioners, and technical partners.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, in his remarks, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the committee and stakeholders for the smooth rollout of the project.
“The SPIN project is a significant convergence of national priorities in agriculture, water, and energy security.
“With World Bank backing and active state participation, we are poised to modernise infrastructure and empower communities,” he said.
Pheelangwah applauded the readiness of the 17 participating states and expressed optimism that the SPIN project will consolidate and surpass the achievements of TRIMING.
He noted that the inaugural meeting marks the statutory launch of the project and a key milestone in accessing the $500 million World Bank facility dedicated to the initiative.
