BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Federal Ministries of Power and Water Resources and Sanitation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the World Bank Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) program.
The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday in Abuja, marking a collaborative effort to harness Nigeria’s abundant hydropower potential.
According to the statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, the development is a significant step towards sustainable development.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and his ounterpart, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, signed the MoU in the presence of senior government officials, development partners from the World Bank and other key stakeholders.
In his remarks, Adelabu highlighted the significance of SPIN in diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix, enhancing energy security, and combating climate change.
He noted that hydropower currently contributes about 20 percent of Nigeria’s grid supply, with a potential estimated at 14GW (14000 megawatts) of which only 15 percent has been tapped.
He said: “This collaboration underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging our natural resources for sustainable development.
“Through SPIN, we aim to optimize water resources to provide clean and reliable energy while supporting irrigation and agriculture for enhanced food security.”
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing the importance of integrating water and energy to foster socio-economic growth.
“This projects will deliver the dividends of democracy that Nigerians are waiting for”.
“The Federal Government, with support from the World Bank, remains dedicated to addressing developmental challenges in the country and delivering transformative results through innovative and strategic partnerships”, he stated.
The SPIN initiative aligns with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and the 2023 Electricity Act both of which prioritize renewable energy and infrastructure development to drive economic growth and environmental sustainability.