The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has highlighted the significant achievements of Nigeria’s ongoing Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, (TRIMING) Project.
Prof. Utsev explained that the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) by the World Bank which will be replacing the TRIMING project will address the country’s pressing challenges relating to food sufficiency.
The TRIMING Project is set to expire by 2024.
He made this known during a meeting with the World Bank Team on Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN)/TRIMING Project recently at the Ministry’s Conference room in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev stressed the integral connection between economic sustainability and food security, underlining the TRIMING Project’s pivotal role in enhancing food production within the nation.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the President’s agenda, emphasising food security, improved irrigation techniques, and enhanced farming practices across the country.
Prof. Utsev expressed deep gratitude to the World Bank team for the remarkable progress made over the past nine years and expressed optimism that this initiative, which should be a long term engagement, will yield even more significant outcomes.
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.
He noted the pivotal role played by the Association in ensuring the sustainable management of irrigation resources and called for support in achieving the project’s objectives.
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 revealed that the project will encompass comprehensive technical assistance studies focused on large-scale water resources management and the development of multi-purpose dam hydropower projects.
