No fewer than 25 state governments will be beneficiaries of the newly approved $500m World Bank loan to improve water resource management for hydropower and irrigation.

This was as the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Power, on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank for the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.

The latest development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja.

The states include Benue, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, Enugu, Bauchi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Kebbi, Plateau, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Abia, Kwara, Imo, Taraba, Kano, Delta, Osun, Jigawa, Edo, and Kogi.

The statement noted that the initiative aims to enhance dam safety, improve water resource management, and boost hydropower and irrigation systems nationwide.

 “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.

“The 500 million dollar World Bank SPIN project aims to enhance dam safety and improve water resource management for hydropower and irrigation across 25 states.

In his address, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised the partnership’s importance in advancing sustainable hydropower development and enhancing Nigeria’s energy security.

He disclosed that despite abundant water resources, only 2 per cent of the country’s 14-gigawatt hydropower potential has been utilized, leaving vast opportunities untapped.

He said, “Hydropower currently contributes about 20 per cent  of Nigeria’s grid supply, with a potential estimated at 14GW (14000 megawatts) of which only 15 per cent has been tapped.

“This collaboration underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging our natural resources for sustainable development.

“Through SPIN, we aim to optimize water resources to provide clean and reliable energy while supporting irrigation and agriculture for enhanced food security.”

Adelabu highlighted the MoU as a key step toward harnessing renewable energy, optimizing natural resources, and diversifying the energy mix in line with the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan.

He noted the initiative’s potential to transform the energy landscape and provide sustainable power for millions.

He further stated that under the current federal government administration, measures such as the Electricity Act 2023 are decentralizing the electricity market and enabling subnational governments’ participation.

Adelabu stressed the role of decentralized power systems in enhancing reliability and reducing risks to the national grid.

He also pointed out northern Nigeria’s solar potential, with 8 to 12 hours of daily sunshine, and reaffirmed the commitment to leveraging hydropower and fostering partnerships for a sustainable energy future.

Utsev described the SPIN project as pivotal to boosting food production, creating jobs, and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.

He commended the World Bank as a trusted partner in the country’s development, highlighting the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria project, which concludes in January 2025, as a foundation for innovative solutions in water and agriculture.

As Chairman of the SPIN Preparatory Team, Utsev reaffirmed the ministries’ and partners’ full commitment to the project’s success, expressing confidence in its potential to address Nigeria’s irrigation needs and deliver significant benefits to citizens.

“We are confident that the SPIN project will build on this legacy by boosting food production and meeting the irrigation needs of our growing population,” he added.

“Our collective efforts have brought us to this significant moment, and I am confident that SPIN will deliver the tangible benefits Nigerians are eagerly anticipating,” he said.