• Nigeria launches $500 million SPIN irrigation and hydropower project
• Project will rehabilitate 40,000 hectares and improve water infrastructure
• Initiative aims to boost food security and benefit 950,000 people

Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, on March 10 launched the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project. The World Bank-funded $500 million initiative aims to expand irrigation, improve dam safety and boost sustainable energy production.

In a statement, the Ministry of Information said some of the funding will be used to rehabilitate about 40,000 hectares of irrigated land and improve water infrastructure and water resource management.

“The initiative will enhance sustainable water management, agricultural productivity and energy access nationwide,” Utsev said.

“The SPIN project will strengthen irrigation development, improve water management institutions, support hydropower development and attract private sector investment in irrigation and agricultural value chains,” said Saroj Kumar Jha, the World Bank Group’s Global Director for Water.

Beyond infrastructure investment, authorities also plan to increase farmer participation in irrigation management by involving producers in maintaining facilities to ensure long-term sustainability. SPIN is expected to benefit nearly 950,000 people, including farmers, herders and their families across the country.

Still-untapped potential

Project officials said the investment aligns with the government’s goal of expanding irrigated land to 500,000 hectares by 2030. By comparison, FAO data shows that about 331,000 hectares were equipped for irrigation in Nigeria in 2023.

Nigeria nonetheless holds considerable potential. Official data indicates the country has 3.14 million hectares of irrigable land, meaning less than 20% of that potential is currently used. Expanding irrigation is also strategic as the government seeks self-sufficiency in staple crops such as rice and aims to reduce reliance on food imports.

Nigeria ranks as the fifth-largest food importer in Africa, behind Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and South Africa. In a 2025 report, UNCTAD said Africa’s most populous country imported an average of nearly $5.59 billion in food products annually between 2021 and 2023. Major import categories include cereals such as wheat and rice, edible oils and sugar.

Stéphanas Assocle