No less than 25 state governments would benefit from the newly granted $500 million World Bank loan to boost water resource management for hydropower and agriculture.
This came as the Federal Government, represented by the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Sanitation and Power, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank on Tuesday to undertake the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, attended the signing event.
Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, announced the new development in Abuja.
The states are: 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.
According to the statement, the project seeks to improve dam safety, water resource management, and hydropower and irrigation systems nationwide.
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Ministry of Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project.”
“Through SPIN, we aim to optimize water resources to provide clean and reliable energy while supporting irrigation and agriculture for enhanced food security.”
Adelabu described the MoU as a critical step in harnessing renewable energy, optimizing natural resources, and diversifying the energy mix in accordance with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan.
He emphasized the initiative’s potential to revolutionize the energy environment and deliver sustainable electricity to millions.
He went on to say that under the present federal administration, policies like the power Act 2023 are decentralizing the power market and allowing subnational governments to participate.
Adelabu emphasized the importance of decentralized power systems in increasing dependability and lowering threats to the national grid.
He also emphasized northern Nigeria’s solar potential, which includes 8 to 12 hours of daily sunlight, and restated the commitment to maximizing hydropower and creating partnerships for a sustainable energy future.
