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The Nigerian government is seeking a $500 million loan from the World Bank to address water security issues through the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project. This initiative aims to improve dam safety, strengthen water resource management, and boost agricultural productivity.
Key Objectives of the SPIN Project:
- Institutional Development and Capacity Building:
- Enhance the capabilities of institutions involved in water resource management.
- Empower Water User Associations to manage irrigation projects effectively.
- Irrigation Modernization:
- Rehabilitate approximately 30,000 hectares of existing irrigated command areas in the initial stage.
- Plan to repair and rehabilitate an additional 40,000 hectares of irrigated land in subsequent phases.
- Improvements in Dam Operations and Safety:
- Address the urgent need for increased dam safety highlighted by the severe floods of 2022, which caused an estimated $6.7 billion in economic damage.
- Focus on enhancing the operational safety of existing dams to prevent future flooding and water-related disasters.
- Project Management:
- Ensure effective implementation and oversight of the various components of the project.
Hydropower Component:
- Greenfield and Brownfield Investments:
- Explore potential interventions in both new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) hydropower facilities.
- Gurara II Multipurpose Dam:
- Prioritized as a key greenfield investment with a hydropower capacity of 360 megawatts (MW) and a reservoir capacity of 400 million cubic meters (MCM).
- Supports irrigation schemes, aquaculture, and electricity generation.
Broader Goals:
- Address water resources management, water security, and energy security challenges in Nigeria.
- Invest in irrigation, dams, storage infrastructure, and hydropower facilities to enhance overall water and energy sustainability.
The SPIN project is slated to begin on September 26, focusing on these comprehensive efforts to bolster Nigeria’s water and agricultural infrastructure, ensuring long-term economic and environmental benefits for the nation.