The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Sustainable Rural and Urban Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) and irrigation projects nationwide, in collaboration with the World Bank.
This commitment was underscored during a recent courtesy visit by the World Bank Country Director, Ndiame Diop, to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, and the Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, in Abuja.
The discussions focused on three flagship projects supported by the World Bank: TRIMING, SURWASH, and the upcoming SPIN project.
Prof. Utsev highlighted the success of the TRIMING project, which is expected to conclude in January 2025, with efforts currently aimed at completing remedial work at the Bakolori and Dadin Kowa Irrigation Schemes and addressing cracks at the Tiga Dam.
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He emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration on criteria for selecting new states eligible for SURWASH, SPIN, and other World Bank interventions in the water sector. The Minister assured that any remaining gaps in the TRIMING projects would be addressed to ensure successful completion by early next year.
Prof. Utsev also noted ongoing SURWASH meetings with Water Commissioners and the acceleration of discussions with State Governors to achieve better results for improved disbursements. He expressed gratitude to the World Bank team for their expertise and resources.
Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., called for urgent repairs to the Goronyo Dam spillway gates, which have become non-operational following their conversion to automatic systems. He emphasized the need for reinforcement and repairs to maximize the benefits of the irrigation project and support the President’s food production agenda. He also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration to enhance food security across the country.
During the meeting, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, Engr. Alli Dallah, raised concerns about the Tiga Dam’s spillway, noting that the current emergency spillway is insufficient to control flooding.
Further discussions focused on the preparations for the SPIN project, which are well underway. The Director of Irrigation and Drainage, Engr. Oyeronke Oluniyi, and the SPIN Project Preparatory Chairman, Engr. Abdulkareem Dahiru, confirmed that the World Bank will present the project to its Board for approval in mid-September. Negotiations with the Federal Ministry of Finance are scheduled for next week, marking a critical step in meeting the project’s timeline. So far, 28 states have expressed interest and made commitments to the project, with a second phase of state engagement set to commence on August 18, after which participating states will be selected.
The Director of Water Supply, Mukaila Babarinde, and the SURWASH Coordinator, Engr. Abdulhamid Gwaram, underscored the importance of the performance-for-results program, designed to deliver WASH services that address food security, poverty reduction, and capital development for citizens.
