Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has reiterated its dedication to advancing Sustainable Rural and Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) and irrigation projects across Nigeria in collaboration with the World Bank.
This renewed commitment was emphasized during a courtesy visit by World Bank Country Director, Mr. Ndiame Diop, to the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, and the Honourable Minister of State, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, on Wednesday, 14th August 2024, in Abuja.
The discussions revolved around three flagship projects supported by the World Bank: TRIMING, SURWASH, and the upcoming SPIN project.
The Honourable Minister, Engr. Prof. Utsev, pointed out that the TRIMING project, scheduled to conclude in January 2025, has been notably successful, with current efforts focused on finalizing remedial works at the Bakolori and Dadin Kowa Irrigation Schemes and addressing fissures at the Tiga Dam.
He stressed the necessity for enhanced collaboration on the criteria for selecting new states eligible for SURWASH, SPIN, and other World Bank intervention projects in the water sector.
He also assured that any remaining deficiencies in the TRIMING projects would be rectified to ensure successful completion by early next year.
The Minister highlighted ongoing SURWASH meetings with Water Commissioners and the endeavors being made to expedite discussions with the State Governors to achieve more effective results for improved disbursements.
He also mentioned that the TRIMING Project is nearing completion, with ongoing meetings with key stakeholders on the project’s timeline. The Minister expressed gratitude to the World Bank Team for their shared expertise and resources.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of State, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., called for prompt repairs of the Goronyo Dam spillway gates, which have become non-operational following their conversion to automatic systems.
He emphasized the need for reinforcement and repairs to maximize the benefits of the irrigation project and support the President’s food production agenda. He also underscored the importance of continued synergy and collaboration to enhance food security across the country.
Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, Engr. Alli Dallah, raised concerns about the Tiga Dam’s spillway, noting that the existing emergency spillway is inadequate to control flooding.
Further discussions highlighted preparations for the SPIN project, which are well underway.
The Director of Irrigation and Drainage, Engr. Oyeronke Oluniyi, and the SPIN Project Preparatory Chairman, Engr. Abdulkareem Dahiru, confirmed that the World Bank will present the project to its Board for approval in mid-September.
They added that Negotiations with the Federal Ministry of Finance are scheduled for next week, marking a critical step in meeting the project’s timeline. So far, 28 states have expressed interest and made commitments to the project, with a second phase of state engagement set to commence on 18th August, after which participating states will be selected.
The Director of Water Supply, Mr. Mukaila Babarinde, and the SURWASH Coordinator, Engr. Abdulhamid Gwaram, underscored the significance of the performance-for-results program, designed to deliver WASH services that address food security, poverty reduction, and capital development for citizens.
They acknowledged the program’s challenges, which will be addressed during the Mid-Term Review in September 2024, and emphasized the need for strong advocacy with state governments where discussions will also focus on including additional states beyond the seven currently implementing the program.
They also noted that the Ministry is making significant progress towards achieving the first result, tagged DLI 1.
Mr. Ndiame Diop reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to collaboration on WASH and irrigation projects and highlighted the upcoming mid-term review as crucial for ensuring technical assistance and capacity building through evidence-based activities.
He assured that major issues related to dams would be better addressed within the SPIN project framework.
The visit was attended by directors from the Ministry, along with the Honourable Ministers’ Special Assistants, Technical Assistants, and Senior Water Specialists from the World Bank office.
