The Federal Government has applied for a $500 million loan from the World Bank to strengthen water resource management throughout the federation and increase dam safety.
This loan is anticipated to tackle the nation’s problems with water security and enhance agricultural production,
by supporting the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project.
According to a World Bank Project Information Document for the proposed project that was posted on its website on Monday,
the SPIN project is focused on four key areas: project management; irrigation modernization; improvements in dam operations and safety; and institutional strengthening and capacity building.
The proposed approval date for the SPIN project is September 26, 2024.
This area will strengthen state and federal organisations in charge of managing water resources. It includes establishing national standards for dam safety, providing instruction on managing irrigation and water resources, and drafting an extensive master plan for hydropower.
The document read, “Nigeria faces water security challenges, which impact water availability for drinking water, energy and food production, and are increasingly exacerbated by climate change, putting livelihoods and economic development at risk. Harnessing water storage and dam safety is central to climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nigeria. It is a prerequisite to improving water management for water supply, irrigation, and hydropower generation and offers protection from floods and droughts.
“Nigeria has over 400 dams and an estimated total combined storage of 59 billion cubic meters. 46 per cent of dams are federally owned and are managed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, through River Basin Development Authorities. 48 per cent of dams are state-owned and are managed by a state ministry. Many dams are incomplete and more than 50 per cent of the large dams built in the 1970s and 80s require rehabilitation.
“This situation is due in part to institutions responsible for dam management, whether at the federal or state level, having inadequate budget, human resources and capacity to ensure dam management, operation and maintenance and non-adherence to operational manuals, where they exist.”
According to the report, there are more than 400 dams in the nation, many of which require urgent repair.
It was also stated that the devastating 2022 floods, which caused an estimated $6.7bn in economic damage, underscored the urgent need for improved dam safety and water management.
The Federal Government intends to renovate and restore 40,000 hectares of irrigated land. Additionally, it will create and enable Water User Associations to effectively oversee irrigation projects.
The third area will focus on rehabilitating and enhancing the safety of priority dams, including conducting risk assessments, preparing emergency action plans, and implementing structural safety improvements.
Establishing a Federal Project Management Unit and Technical Units at the federal and state levels is part of the last area to ensure effective project implementation, monitoring, and assessment.
