Professor Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, has sought more support from the World Bank to enable Nigeria to upgrade and construct more dams to boost irrigation farming and achieve food security and hydro-power generation in the country.
Utsev made the call on Friday when he received a team from the World Bank led by its Senior Water Resources Management Specialist and Team Leader of TRIMING and SPIN, Engr Chinedu Umolu, as well as the National Coordinator of SPIN Engr. Ipinlaye Olaiye in his office.
According to him, though the World Bank has been supportive of the country especially in the funding of critical projects that are impacting positively on the lives of millions of Nigerians, more of such support was required especially now that the administration of President Bola Tinubu 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.
He pointed out that 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 teeming youths and add value to the nation’s economy.
He assured the Bank of sustained synergy and smooth implementation of the SPIN project in the country.
Earlier, Senior Water Resources Management Specialist and Team Leader of TRIMING and SPIN project of the World Bank, Engr Chinedu Umolu, told the Minister that the visit was to brief him about the successful implementation of TRIMING project and its final closure by next month.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu administration for its unwavering support for the execution of TRIMING project in Nigeria which has improved the lives of citizens of the country.
He also thanked Utsev for his proactive and pragmatic leadership which saw the smooth kick- off of the SPIN project in the country with many states indicating interest to participate, saying it was a clear demonstration of commitment for the success of the project and assured the Minister of the support of the bank to enable the project impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.