The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has stressed the significant achievements of Federal Government’s ongoing efforts in Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, (TRIMING) Project.
This development was announced in a Press Statement issued to newsmen by the Ministry’s Head of Press and PR Unit, Funmi Imuetinyan.
According to Funmi, The Minister disclosed the achievements during a meeting with the World Bank Team on Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN)/TRIMING Project on September 20, 2023, at the Ministry’s Conference room in Abuja.
She explained that, Prof. Utsev underlined the integral connection between economic sustainability and food security, emphasizing the TRIMING Project’s pivotal role in enhancing food production within the nation.
He also welcomed the proposal to replace the TRIMING Project, set to expire next year, with the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) by the World Bank, which is expected to address the country’s pressing challenges relating to food sufficiency.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to President’s agenda, emphasizing food security, improved irrigation techniques, and enhanced farming practices across the nation.
In his remarks, Mr. Jun Matsumoto, the SPIN/TRIMING World Bank lead, acknowledged the successful transformation of irrigation asset management through the establishment of Water Users Associations.
Mr. Matsumoto further emphasized the critical importance of collaboration in the upcoming SPIN project and elaborated on the SPIN project’s core objectives, which include utilizing existing water resources infrastructure to address the nation’s water resources and energy requirements.
He also disclosed that the scheme will encompass comprehensive technical assistance studies focused on large-scale water resources management and the development of multi-purpose dam hydropower projects.
