By Obiabin Onukwugha
The federal government has flagged-off a $500m World Bank supported initiative aimed at strengthening dam safety and improving water resource management.
The project, known as Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, was flagged off by Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking, Utsev who is also is the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the SPIN Project explained that the initiative represents a major strategic intervention by the Federal Government with objective sustainable national food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
The SPIN project backed by the World Bank with a financing package of $500 million, an equivalent of N688.5billion, is designed to support sustainable energy development while improving Nigeria’s resilience to floods, droughts, and climate variability.
The initiative is expected to expand irrigation and hydropower capacity, contributing to national food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, while encouraging states to establish the required institutional support to participate in the programme.
