FG LAUNCHES COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY.

The Federal Government has launched the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, aimed at improving food security, water management, and climate resilience. 

The project, valued at $500 million and supported by the World Bank, is expected to develop infrastructure for irrigation and hydropower.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, explained that the initiative, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, will build on the successes of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, which rehabilitated 32,000 hectares of irrigation.

Utsev highlighted goals such as 500,000 hectares of irrigated agriculture and 30 gigawatts of sustainable energy, saying that the project consists of four components comprising Institutional Strengthening, Irrigation Modernization, Dam Safety, and Effective Project Management, with models for federal and state management.

The Minister, who noted that out of 34 interested states, 17 have met readiness criteria, commended the SPIN Interim Team for their work, adding that the steering committee will be the main decision-making body. 

Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, called the SPIN project timely, emphasizing the importance of measurable outcomes.

##UTVAfrica##