By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, has launched the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project to strengthen irrigation development, improve dam safety, and expand sustainable power generation as part of efforts to boost food security and economic growth across the country.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the official flag-off and the second meeting of the project’s Steering Committee. He said the initiative would enhance sustainable water management, agricultural productivity and energy access nationwide.
Utsev described the SPIN Project as a flagship programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, designed to strengthen food security, economic resilience and infrastructure development.
According to the minister, the World Bank-supported project will strengthen dam safety, improve water resource management, expand irrigation systems and support hydropower generation across the country. He added that the initiative would help Nigeria transition from heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture to climate-resilient irrigation systems capable of supporting year-round farming and increased food production.
He also emphasised the importance of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in ensuring participatory irrigation management, noting that farmers would be actively involved in the operation and maintenance of irrigation facilities to guarantee sustainability.
Utsev commended states that have already met the requirements to participate in the programme and urged others to take necessary steps to join, stressing that collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, development partners, farmers and the private sector would be critical to the project’s success.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahmouda Mamman, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project. He said the initiative aligns with the Tinubu administration’s priorities of strengthening food security, improving energy access and promoting economic growth.
Adelabu noted that the project would enhance dam safety, support irrigation development and increase hydropower generation, while expanding access to reliable electricity for communities and businesses.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Emanso Umobong, who also serves as Secretary of the Steering Committee, presented a report outlining the activities of the committee since its inauguration.
In his goodwill message, the Global Director for Water at the World Bank, Saroj Kumar Jha, said the 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 concluding in 2025.
He explained that 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.
According to him, the programme aims to rehabilitate about 40,000 hectares of irrigated farmland while improving dam safety and water storage management across Nigeria’s more than 400 dams.
The Country Director of the World Bank for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said recent economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration have helped stabilise the economy and position the country for sustainable growth and job creation.
Verghis explained that the bank’s new Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria covering 2026 to 2032 would focus on job creation, water security, food security and energy development, while strengthening engagement with state governments and mobilising private sector investment.
Earlier, the National Project Coordinator for the SPIN Project, Ipinlaye Olaiya, presented an update on the project’s implementation progress.
Representatives of state governments also attended the meeting, including Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, represented by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo; Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, represented by Secretary to the State Government Bukar Tijani; and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, represented by Deputy Governor Manassah Daniel Jatau.
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Other participants included commissioners of water resources and agriculture from participating states, development partners, chairmen and managing directors of River Basin Development Authorities, as well as key 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 discussions with the World Bank and other partners, as well as the official launch of the initiative.
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