By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria has commended the World Bank for its significant contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly in the areas of sustainable infrastructure and water resource management.
This commendation was made during a courtesy visit by the World Bank Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Chakib Jenane who was accompanied by senior management staff of the World Bank including the Country Director Ndiame Diop.
The aim of the visit was to discuss key World Bank-supported initiatives in Nigeria and at the same time, to announce the Bank’s recent approval of the $500 million loan for Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project in Nigeria (SPIN).
A statement by
Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan
Director, Information and Public Relations on Thursday said that during the meeting, Prof. Utsev expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the World Bank’s continuous support on projects that mostly impacted the lives of Nigerians. He assured the delegation that all policies and projects backed by the World Bank would receive counterpart support from the Nigeria government, particularly projects which falls within the ambit of technical expertise in order to ensure the successful realization of these projects for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He also noted the urgency of completing the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to meet the project’s January 2025 deadline.
The Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, also expressed his gratitude to the World Bank team for approving the SPIN project.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to collaborative efforts to ensure the success of the project, emphasizing the Ministry’s determination to see it through effectively.
World Bank Regional Director for Sustainable Infrastructure Development for West and Central Africa, Chakib Jenane, shared the good news of the World Bank’s approval of the $500 million SPIN project, which was granted during the World Bank Board meeting held on September 26, 2024.
He emphasized the need for Nigeria to continue preparations to meet the remaining conditions necessary for the project’s effectiveness, which is slated for January 2025.
In addition to the SPIN project, the World Bank team discussed the TRIMING project, which is due soon and also provided updates on the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (SURWASH) program, highlighting the importance of involving more states in the initiative.
Moreover, the World Bank team encouraged the Ministry to explore the establishment of a National WASH Fund, which is to be achieved by the Ministry under Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI) 1 of the SURWASH program.
