World Bank Loan: FG's $500m Bid for Safer Dams, Better Water Management

Nigeria eyes $500m World Bank funding for dam safety, water reforms...

Nigeria seeks $500m World Bank loan for Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN) to enhance dam safety, water management, and agricultural productivity, addressing water security challenges and climate change impacts on livelihoods and economic development.

The Federal Government has sought a $500 million loan from the World Bank to enhance water resource management and dam safety nationwide. This loan will support the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN), addressing water security concerns and increasing agricultural productivity.

The SPIN project, as outlined in the World Bank's Project Information Document, will concentrate on four primary areas: strengthening institutions, modernizing irrigation systems, enhancing dam operations and safety, and effective project management. These initiatives aim to improve Nigeria's water infrastructure and boost agricultural output.

The World Bank is expected to approve the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project (SPIN) on September 26, 2024. The project will focus on capacity-building for federal and state agencies responsible for water resource management, including the development of national dam safety guidelines, training programs for water resources and irrigation management, and a comprehensive hydropower master plan.

Nigeria faces significant water security challenges, impacting access to water for drinking, energy, and food production. Climate change exacerbates these issues, threatening livelihoods and economic development. To address this, improving water storage and dam safety is crucial for climate change adaptation and mitigation, enabling better water management for irrigation, hydropower generation, and protection against floods and droughts.

Nigeria's dam infrastructure comprises over 400 dams, with a total storage capacity of 59 billion cubic meters. However, many of these dams, particularly those constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, require urgent rehabilitation due to years of underfunding, insufficient human resources, and inadequate capacity for effective management, operation, and maintenance at both federal and state levels, highlighting a critical need for intervention and upgrade.