By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- THE Federal Government, Friday, solicited more support from the World Bank to upgrade dam infrastructure, irrigation for all-year round farming to boost food production, and upscale hydropower generation across the country.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, made the call when a World Bank Delegation led by the Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, Engr Chinedu Umolu along with the National Coordinator of SPIN Engr Ipinlaye Olaiye, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Minister commended the World Bank’s supportive role in funding critical projects that are impacting positively on the lives of millions of Nigerians, however, he appealed to the World Bank to increase the tempo of its interventions and support, particularly on projects and programmes executed under President Tinubu’s administration, which is committed to upgrading all existing dams in the country and constructing new ones to scale up irrigation farming and achieve food sufficiency as well as improve hydropower generation in the country.

According to him (Utsev), with the increased number of states indicating interest to participate in the SPIN project, which is to commence soon, there was a compelling need for additional funding from the World Bank to enable the states fully key into the SPIN project to boost food production, create more job opportunities for the teaming youths and add value to the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, he also assured the Bank of sustained synergy and smooth implementation of the SPIN project in the country.

Earlier, the Senior Water Resources Management Specialist and Team Leader of Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, TRIMING, Project, and Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria, SPIN Project of the World Bank, Engr Chinedu Umolu, explained that their visit was to brief the Minister about the successful implementation of TRIMING project and its official and final close out in June 2025.

Umolu, also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu’s administration for giving unwavering support for the execution of TRIMING project in Nigeria, which has improved on the lives of citizens of the country, and commended the Minister for his proactive and pragmatic leadership, which led to the smooth kick-off of the SPIN project in the country.

He acknowledged that many states are indicating interest to participate in the SPIN project, and added that it was a clear demonstration of commitment for the success of the project, therefore, he assured the Minister of support from the World Bank to ensure the project impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.