The Federal Government has earned N7 billion from hydropower and agro-allied concessions while expanding irrigable land nationwide to 154,000 hectares, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has said.
He disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement on the achievements of the ministry’s projects and programmes.
Utsev said the 40-megawatt Kashimbilla Hydropower Plant and the Kashimbilla Integrated Cargo and Agro-Allied Airport were concessioned in full compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act, 2005.
He added that additional concession agreements are being finalized for the Farin Ruwa, Katsina-Ala, Dasin Hausa, Manya and Bawaku dams, as well as the Azara–Jere Irrigation Scheme, bringing private-sector expertise into agricultural water management.
The minister noted that flood preparedness had improved with the 2024 and 2025 Annual Flood Outlooks, which identified 1,249 high-risk and 2,187 moderate-risk communities across 33 states and the FCT.
He said disaster-mitigation initiatives, including the National Flood Insurance Programme, Integrated Climate Resilience Innovation Project, Niger Flood Project and Annual Drought Outlook, complement flood forecasting and climate resilience planning.
Utsev also clarified that no water had been released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and advised residents in Lokoja, Makurdi and Wurobokki to rely on verified updates from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
According to him, agencies under the ministry have been strengthened to deliver better services.
“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency monitors floods and droughts; the National Water Resources Institute trained over 1,500 youths; and the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission issued 24 water-use licences,” he said.
He added that River Basin Development Authorities had been repositioned to develop 154,000 hectares of irrigable land, directly benefiting 1.6 million farmers engaged in dry-season farming.
Utsev said recent dam projects completed include the Rafin Yashin Dam in Niger, Odo Ape Dam in Kogi and Amla Otukpo Dam in Benue, all featuring solar-powered drip irrigation systems and strengthened Water Users’ Associations.
He said partnerships with the World Bank, African Development Bank, UNICEF and WaterAid continue to support the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, enhancing land and water sustainability across 19 northern states and the FCT.
The minister added that sanitation programmes such as the Sustainable Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (SURWASH) and the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) programme had recorded significant progress.
He stated that 26 states had joined the SPIN programme, while the National Sanitation Conference developed strategies to eradicate open defecation, with support from religious and traditional leaders.
Utsev listed the ministry’s 2026 targets to include the completion of the Adada, Mangu and Ogbesse dams, operationalisation of the Kashimbilla Water Supply Scheme, expansion of micro-irrigation projects and strengthening of structured citizen feedback mechanisms.
He reaffirmed that water, sanitation, irrigation and hydropower remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, advancing food security, clean energy, climate resilience and national prosperity.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Emanso Umobong, said the engagement was organized to strengthen accountability, transparency and stakeholder inclusion.
She emphasized that the water and sanitation sector is central to public health, economic development, food security and national well-being.
Umobong said the forum provides a platform for dialogue on sector performance, challenges and collaboration.
“Close interaction with stakeholders is essential to obtain meaningful feedback and improve service delivery. The Ministry values all contributions, and the outcomes of today’s session will refine policies and enhance programme implementation,” she said.
She explained that citizen and stakeholder engagement was first anchored in Presidential Executive Order 12 of 2022, later amended by Executive Order 13 to improve coordination and accountability in implementing government priorities.
Umobong added that ministries are required to hold at least one stakeholder engagement meeting every quarter, chaired by the Minister and supported by Permanent Secretaries, Directors, development partners and civil society organizations.
Highlights of the meeting included questions and feedback from partners on repositioning the ministry and its agencies to strengthen the water and sanitation sector.
