FG launches $500m irrigation project to boost hydropower, dam safety

The federal government has officially launched the $500 million Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project as part of efforts to improve dam safety, expand irrigation, and strengthen water resource management across the country.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, performed the official flag-off of the project on March 10, and described it as a major step toward improving Nigeria’s water infrastructure and enhancing climate resilience.

The project is being financed by the World Bank through a $500 million support package aimed at promoting sustainable energy development and helping Nigeria better manage the impacts of floods, droughts, and climate change.

According to the government, the SPIN initiative is expected to boost irrigation for agriculture, expand hydropower generation, and improve dam safety standards nationwide.

The programme is also projected to strengthen food security, support economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability.

Under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the government said the project will also encourage state governments to put in place the necessary institutional frameworks required to benefit from the initiative.

Officials noted that the SPIN project forms part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s water sector and ensure more efficient use of water resources for national development.