The Federal Government has restated its commitment to strengthening partnership with the World Bank to speed up access to safe water and drive food security across the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev made the commitment on Wednesday while receiving a World Bank delegation in his office in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev told the visiting team that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is anchored on improving access to safe water, achieving food security through irrigated agriculture, and creating job opportunities for the nation’s teeming population.
He maintained that stronger collaboration with the World Bank would fast-track the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project and other critical, high-impact projects being executed by the Ministry with the support of the World Bank.
The Minister, according to a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Terhemen Oraduen, also assured the World Bank team of the Ministry’s participation in the forthcoming Africa Water Forum, scheduled to hold this month in N’Djamena, Chad.
According to Prof. Utsev, his Ministry would use the platform to showcase the key reforms being implemented under the Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to safe and sustainable water, particularly in underserved communities, while highlighting the vast investment opportunities in Nigeria’s water sector.
Earlier, the World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL) for the SPIN Project, Zack Zieglhifer, and Co-Task Team Leader, Engr. Chinedu Umolu, stated that the purpose of their visit was to confirm the Ministry’s participation in the forthcoming Africa Water Forum in N’Djamena, which is being hosted by West African countries, the World Bank, and other development partners.
According to them, the Forum will feature high-level sessions designed to stimulate dialogue, shape decision-making, and drive tangible commitments, with a particular focus on innovative financing for water security across Africa.
