Nigeria’s $500m SPIN Initiative Targets Irrigation and Energy Integration

News in brief:

-Nigeria's FG says its SPIN Project will modernise irrigation and integrate reliable power to support year-round farming.

-The $500 million World Bank-backed initiative aims to strengthen food security, hydropower generation, and rural economic growth.

The Tinubu-led administration claims that the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project will play a critical role in improving irrigation systems, integrating reliable power supply, and strengthening national food security.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated this during the second meeting of the project's steering committee held in Abuja.

Utsev described the project as a flagship initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at driving sustainable development through integrated water, agriculture, and energy solutions.

Project to Enable Year-Round Agricultural Production

According to the minister, the SPIN Project is designed to modernise irrigation infrastructure while ensuring a sustainable power supply to support year-round farming and agro-industrial activities.

He revealed that the integrated approach would boost food production, generate employment opportunities, and strengthen rural economies.

“The SPIN Project is conceived as a transformative platform linking irrigation modernisation with sustainable power solutions to enable year-round agriculture, expand agro-industrial activities and stimulate rural economies,” Utsev said.

Implementation Progress and Key Benchmarks

Utsev noted that during the committee’s inaugural meeting, members agreed on implementation benchmarks to ensure early effectiveness.

He explained that recent efforts have focused on improving institutional coordination, strengthening the technical readiness of irrigation schemes, and ensuring environmental and social compliance.

These measures, he said, led to the formal declaration of the project’s effectiveness on October 27, 2025.

Power Integration Critical to Irrigation Modernisation

The minister emphasised that a reliable and affordable power supply would be essential for irrigation modernisation and agro-processing.

He stressed the importance of collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power to ensure the availability of grid-based, embedded, and renewable energy solutions for irrigation systems.

Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mahmoud Mamman, said the project aligns with the government’s strategy to strengthen food security and expand electricity supply.

He explained that the initiative would enhance dam safety, improve water resource management, and support irrigated agriculture and hydropower generation.

World Bank Support for $500m Initiative

Adelabu added that the implementation progress had been assessed as satisfactory by the World Bank during its Implementation Support Mission in November 2025.

The SPIN Project was approved in September 2024, and it became effective in October 2025. It is expected to run until December 2029.

Valued at $500 million, the initiative aims to enhance dam safety, modernise irrigation systems, and develop climate-resilient hydropower infrastructure across participating states.

According to reports, at least 26 states have already met the eligibility criteria for participation in the project.