FG Unveils Progress On National Water, Irrigation, Sanitation Drive

Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has unveiled the country’s progress in water infrastructure, irrigation and sanitation development across the country, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

The minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this yesterday at a ministerial press briefing on the ministry’s progress report from 2023 to date in Abuja.

Prof. Utev while highlighting the ministry’s commitment to ensuring access to clean water, improving hygiene and supporting food security through irrigation.

He disclosed that progress had been made in the four key sub-sectors: dams and hydropower, irrigation and drainage, water supply and sanitation.

In the dams and hydropower segment, the minister explained that three major multipurpose dams have been completed and commissioned in Niger, Kogi and Benue states.

Under a public-private partnership, the 40MW Kashimbilla Hydropower Plant and a cargo/agro-allied airport in Taraba were concessioned, generating over ₦7.1 billion in revenue for the federal government.

He further stated that the hydropower projects in Benue and Nasarawa states were at various concession stages.

According to him, the irrigation and drainage sub-sector recorded the completion of four projects, including the Bakalori (Zamfara) and Dadin-Kowa (Gombe) Irrigation Projects, enabling year-round farming over thousands of hectares and supporting food production efforts.

He stated that micro-irrigation systems were also installed in Oyo and Jigawa states.

For water supply, the  minister said  four major projects have been commissioned in Jigawa, Yobe, and the FCT, serving communities, urban centers, and institutions such as the NYSC camp in Kubwa.

Over 565 water schemes serving more than 450,000 people were completed in collaboration with donor partners and sub-national governments under programmes like PEWASH, SURWASH, and AfDB-supported schemes, he explained.

In sanitation,  he said the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign led to 40 additional LGAs attaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, bringing the national total to 142. Public awareness jingles in five languages have reportedly reached over 25 million Nigerians. Additionally, 159 sanitation facilities have been completed in 23 states, with 38 more awarded across 15 states and the FCT.

The minister said the ministry is also advancing multiple ongoing projects, including reconstruction of Alau Dam in Borno State, incorporating irrigation and hydropower flagged off in March. Fourteen other dams, including Mangu (Plateau) and Adada (Enugu), are nearing completion.

In irrigation, he said projects in Sokoto, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Adamawa are ongoing, adding that the ministry also launched the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) project across 20 states to modernise dams and improve power and food production.

Over 100 new water supply schemes commenced in 2024, with major ones underway in Jigawa and Benue States. These initiatives aim to strengthen water security and resilience to climate change, he explained.