The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has inspected the proposed World Bank and Federal Government–supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project in Katsina-Ala, Benue State.
The minister also inspected ongoing Federal Government water supply projects across the state.
The inspection tour, conducted on Friday, covered the SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, the Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project in Buruku Local Government Area, and the upgrading of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme.
Speaking at the SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, Utsev said the inspection was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to assess water facilities and dams nationwide and identify areas requiring government intervention.
He explained that the 5,000-hectare irrigable farmland under the Katsina-Ala project, when completed, would create employment opportunities for youths and boost food production through year-round farming.
The minister disclosed plans to concession the dam component of the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
Utsev urged residents to support the Federal Government’s initiatives, noting that the project could generate employment for about 2,000 youths. He also encouraged state governments to take advantage of opportunities provided under the World Bank-supported SPIN Programme.
The National Project Coordinator of SPIN, Mr Ipinlaye Olaiya, said the project was designed to increase food production, create jobs and contribute to national economic growth, adding that implementation would commence once clearance was received from the development partner.
Some Katsina-Ala farmers, Mr Jude Oke and Mr Ugbema Godfrey, commended the Federal Government for the proposed irrigation project and appealed for support with farm inputs to enhance dry-season farming.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Emanso Umobong, and other technical directors, the minister also inspected the 30,000-litre capacity Semi-Urban Water Project in Ugbema, Mbaakura Ward, Buruku Local Government Area.
Utsev said the project had reached about 80 per cent completion, with outstanding work remaining on water reticulation.
The inspection team also visited the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme at Ameladu Community in Gboko Local Government Area.
The minister said the scheme, which is about 90 per cent completed, would supply water to four local government areas, including parts of Tarka and Ushongo.
He added that the contractor had been directed to adhere strictly to the 18-month completion timeline, noting that electro-mechanical components were currently being installed at the intake point along the River Benue axis.
The tour concluded at the Amgbo Dam in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area, where Utsev said the dam would be expanded from 400 meters to 1,000 meters, with a reservoir capacity of 1.2 million cubic meters.
According to him, the dam would support water supply and irrigation, provide water to the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, create employment and promote tourism.
In his remarks, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Dr Tyover Ashinya, commended the Federal Government for the project, saying it would significantly address the institution’s water challenges.
