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

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN), a $500 million initiative aimed at improving irrigation, strengthening dam safety and expanding hydropower generation to support food security and economic growth.

The project, supported by the World Bank, was officially flagged off on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the initiative is designed to enhance sustainable power for irrigation, strengthen water resource management and improve Nigeria’s resilience to floods, droughts and climate variability.

“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,” Utsev said.

He added that the project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises food security, economic resilience and infrastructure development.

Utsev also noted that the President had declared a national emergency on food security, stressing the need to transform Nigeria’s agricultural production systems and ensure reliable access to food for citizens.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Mamman Mahmoud, who represented the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, urged members of the project steering committee to remain committed to the successful implementation of the programme.

The SPIN project aims to develop about 500,000 hectares of irrigated farmland and generate up to 30 gigawatts of sustainable energy.

Officials say the initiative will modernise irrigation systems, enhance dam safety and strengthen climate resilience, while boosting agricultural production, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth, particularly in rural communities.