George George Idowu
As President Tinubu led administration clocks two years in office, the Minister of Water Resource and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev has disclosed that the federal government have been able to provide access to clean water to over one million people across Jigawa, Yobe, and the Federal Capital Territory for the past two years.
He said that the same initiative that led to the provision of the water is being carried out in Gombe, Damaturu, and Nguru which are near completion.
Prof. Utsev disclosed this during the 8th Ministerial Press briefing held in Abuja on Friday.
In his words,” through strategic partnerships with PEWASH, SURWASH, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), a total of 565 water schemes have been constructed, benefiting over 451,000 Nigerians”.
On the aspects of dams, the minister reveled that three new dams Rafin Yashin (Niger), Odo-Ape (Kogi), and Amla Otukpo (Benue) have been completed and commissioned.
The minister said that currently there is an ongoing construction of two more major dams in Benue and Nasarawa state that will be under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
In his words, “the 460MW Katsina-Ala in Benue State and 20MW Farin Ruwa in Nasarawa State are currently underway under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.”
Related Posts
Utsev also noted the near completion of 14 dams and the launch of the SPIN Project in collaboration with 20 states to rehabilitate critical dams and irrigation systems.
The minister further reveled that Kashimbila Hydropower Plant and Agro-Allied Cargo Airport has generated over seven billion as revenue to the government.
On irrigation, Utsev said that four major projects, including Bakalori (Zamfara) and Dadin-Kowa (Gombe), have been completed. The ministry has also rehabilitated 9,490 hectares of farmland under the TRIMING Project, supporting an expected annual output of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice.
He added that micro-irrigation systems have been deployed in Oyo, Jigawa, and other states to promote all-year farming.
Similarly, regarding sanitation, he said that huge effort has been accomplished, with 40 new Local Government Areas achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status raising the national total to 142.
According to him, the ministry has constructed 159 sanitation facilities and launched the revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Strategy (2025–2030).
Utsev commended the ministry’s agencies, noting that the River Basin Development Authorities supported over 1.6 million farmers, while NIHSA launched Nigeria’s first National Flood Insurance Programme and installed four weather stations.
The minister expressed gratitude to President Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a water-secure and healthier Nigeria.
