By Faridat Salifu
The Federal Government has appealed to the World Bank to scale up its support for dam rehabilitation and irrigation expansion, aiming to boost food production and electricity generation across Nigeria.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, made the appeal during a recent meeting in Abuja with a World Bank delegation led by Chinedu Umolu, Senior Water Resources Management Specialist.
He highlighted the administration’s commitment to reviving dam infrastructure through the proposed Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) project.
However, Nigeria’s inconsistent track record with World Bank-funded water initiatives raises concerns about future success.
Many past projects, despite substantial financing, have been plagued by delays, mismanagement, and underperformance.
In 2021, the Bank approved an $875 million loan for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme. Yet, by 2023, it was rated “moderately unsatisfactory” due to slow sector reforms and limited state-level technical capacity.
Related Posts
Previous efforts like the National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (NUWSRP) also fell short.
Despite over $450 million invested across three phases since 2004, the programme struggled with procurement scandals, leadership issues, and unsustainable reforms. A 2017 review found most state water boards remained dependent and inefficient.
The World Bank’s 2024 Sanctions System report further highlighted accountability issues, flagging $32 million in questionable spending, including $22 million requested for return by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In contrast, irrigation-focused investments have delivered better, though imperfect, outcomes.
The $495 million Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, launched in 2014, saw successful upgrades in canal infrastructure and water user group formation.
By 2024, about 30,000 hectares were restored to irrigation use. However, insecurity and governance gaps stalled progress in several regions, including Bakolori and Dadin-Kowa.
The Fadama agricultural projects, particularly Fadama III, are considered some of Nigeria’s most impactful World Bank collaborations, raising farmer incomes and increasing cultivated land. Still, oversight failures, such as misappropriation in Ebonyi State, marred its legacy.
Despite these challenges, Utsev emphasized that lessons from past failures have shaped a new approach. He assured the World Bank that the SPIN project would feature improved coordination, transparency, and commitment.
