The Nigerian government has officially inaugurated the project steering committee for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project at a high-level ceremony held today in Abuja.
The minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, described SPIN as a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development through initiatives like the Irrigate Nigeria Project, which targets 500,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture, 30 gigawatts of sustainable energy generation, and strengthened climate resilience in vulnerable communities.
According to a statement signed by Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan , who is the ministry’s
director of information and public relations, the SPIN Project, which is backed by financing from the World Bank, is designed to transform Nigeria’s hydropower, irrigation, and water resource management systems. It is also a key component of the government’s strategy to strengthen national food, water, and energy security.
Prof. Utsev also referenced the success of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, which empowered water user associations (WUAs) to reform irrigation governance and rehabilitate over 32,000 hectares of irrigation infrastructure, contributing significantly to food production and rural livelihoods.
He emphasized that SPIN builds on the TRIMING legacy and will further scale up modern irrigation systems, improve dam safety, and strengthen power infrastructure, particularly in rural and climate-sensitive regions.
The minister acknowledged that the SPIN Project is structured around four key components, which are institutional strengthening, irrigation modernization, dam safety and operational improvements, as well as effective project management
Utsev announced that 17 states have met the eligibility requirements, such as enacting water user association laws and committing to counterpart funding, qualifying them for participation in either federal or state-managed irrigation schemes.
He called for the full cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that the SPIN Project significantly contributes to the modernization of the irrigation sector and the enhancement of dam safety, while facilitating the delivery of large-scale, multi-purpose infrastructure for irrigation and hydropower in alignment with Nigeria’s development goals.
Speaking at the event, the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, represented by the permanent secretary, Mahmud Mamman, highlighted the SPIN Project’s hydropower component as a strategic pathway to attracting private investment in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. He underscored the role of hydropower as a reliable and stable energy source that is vital for the nation’s clean energy transition and economic growth.
Adelabu reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to overcoming challenges and ensuring that the project aligns with Nigeria’s broader development agenda.
Also speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari, assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to achieving the project’s goals of boosting agricultural productivity through reliable power and irrigation. The minister also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its support and encouraged other development partners to actively contribute to the project’s success.
In his welcome remarks, Richard Pheelangwah, permanent secretary of the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation, commended the interim project preparatory team for its foundational work. He assured stakeholders of the secretariat’s unwavering support to ensure smooth and successful project implementation.
The composition of the SPIN Project steering committee at the federal level comprises of the minister of water resources and sanitation (chairman), minister of power (co-chair), minister of environment, minister of fnance and coordinating minister for the economy, as well as the minister of budget and economic planning as members. At the state level, the committee includes the commissioners of agriculture or water resources from the participating states.
The permanent secretary of the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation serves as secretary of the steering committee.
In attendance at the inauguration were representatives of the World Bank, development partners, top government officials, state commissioners of water resources and agriculture, general managers of state water boards and other key stakeholders in the water resources, agriculture and power sectors.
