By Tosin Kolade
The Federal Government says the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project will play a critical role in boosting irrigation, integrating reliable power solutions and strengthening national food security.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said this at the second meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the SPIN Project on Tuesday in Abuja.
Utsev said the project remained a flagship initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at driving sustainable development through integrated water, agriculture and energy solutions.
According to him, the initiative is designed to modernise irrigation systems while ensuring sustainable power supply to support year-round agricultural production and agro-industrial activities.
“The SPIN Project is conceived as a transformative platform linking irrigation modernisation with sustainable power solutions to enable year-round agriculture, expand agro-industrial activities and stimulate rural economies,” he said.
The minister noted that the integrated approach would enhance food production, create jobs, improve livelihoods and support economic diversification.
Utsev recalled that during the committee’s inaugural meeting, members agreed on key implementation benchmarks to ensure early effectiveness of the project.
He said that efforts since then had focused on strengthening institutional coordination and enhancing the technical readiness of the targeted irrigation schemes.
He added that the measures also included ensuring environmental and social compliance, empowering Water Users Associations and finalising financing arrangements.
According to him, these efforts culminated in the formal declaration of the project’s effectiveness on Oct. 27, 2025, alongside modest implementation progress.
Utsev said the meeting was convened to review progress, address emerging challenges and provide strategic direction for the next phase of implementation.
He identified technical readiness, environmental sustainability and power integration as priority areas critical to the success of the project.
“Only credible, bankable and implementation-ready projects can attract financing and ensure timely execution,” he said.
Utsev stressed the importance of aligning irrigation development with climate resilience, watershed protection and sustainable land-use planning.
He added that collaboration with the Ministry of Environment was essential for responsible water and land resource management.
He emphasised the importance of reliable and cost-effective power supply for irrigation modernisation and agro-processing.
“The close collaboration with the Ministry of Power is essential, as irrigation modernisation must be supported by reliable and cost-effective power solutions, whether grid-based, embedded or renewable,” he said.
The minister described the steering committee as the apex decision-making body responsible for ensuring policy coherence, inter-governmental alignment and accountability in project implementation.
Utsev urged members to engage constructively, share insights from their respective sectors and recommit to the timely delivery of agreed actions.
He expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among stakeholders would ensure the successful implementation of the SPIN Project and strengthen national food security and rural economic development.
The minister thereafter declared open the second meeting of the Project Steering Committee.
In his remarks, the Minister of Power, Dr Adebayo Adelabu, said the project aligns with the Federal Government’s priorities under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at enhancing food security, increasing power supply and driving economic growth.
Adelabu, who was represented by Mr Mahmoud Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the project was designed to strengthen dam safety and improve the management of water resources for irrigation and hydropower generation.
According to him, the initiative will enhance the sustainability of dams, protect the environment, improve irrigated agriculture and provide affordable power supply.
“The implementation of the project so far has been assessed as satisfactory by the World Bank Implementation Support Mission held in November 2025,” he said.
The minister said that the project, approved by the World Bank in September 2024, became effective in October 2025, resulting in a delay in the initial timeline.
“While the delays in project effectiveness were beyond our control, we are now in a race against time to deliver our commitments before the project’s closing date in December 2029,” he said.
Adelabu reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Power to the successful implementation of the project.
“As co-chair of the committee and a key implementing agency, we remain committed to addressing challenges and removing impediments that could hinder the progress of the project,” he said.
He also urged participating state governments to ensure their State Project Implementation Units and liaison offices were adequately equipped to deliver at the required pace.
Adelabu commended the World Bank for its continued support and appreciated the dedication of staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Federal Ministry of Power.
He urged members of the steering committee to sustain their commitment toward transforming Nigeria’s approach to energy and food security for national prosperity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SPIN Project is a US $500 million World Bank initiative designed to enhance dam safety, modernise irrigation, and develop climate-resilient hydropower in Nigeria.
Led by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the project aims to improve food security and energy generation across participating states, with 26 states already meeting eligibility criteria.(NAN)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
