The Federal Government on Tuesday launched the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, aimed at providing sustainable power for irrigation and hydropower to enhance national food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank with a $500 million financing package, is also designed to strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to floods, droughts, and climate variability.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the project focuses on food security, economic resilience, and sustainable infrastructure development.
“The Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project represents a major strategic intervention by the Federal Government with the objective of strengthening dam safety and the management of water resources for improved irrigation and hydropower to contribute more effectively to national food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability,” he said.
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Utsev noted that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food security, economic resilience, and infrastructure development. He recalled the president’s declaration of a national emergency on food security, highlighting the urgent need to transform Nigeria’s agricultural systems.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mamman Mahmoud, urged the project steering committee to remain committed to ensuring its successful implementation.
The SPIN Project targets the development of 500,000 hectares of irrigated farmland and is expected to generate up to 30 gigawatts of sustainable energy. By modernising irrigation systems and improving dam safety, the initiative is projected to increase food production, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth, particularly in rural communities.