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.

He also inspected ongoing Federal Government water supply projects in Benue State.

The inspection, conducted on Friday, also covered the Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project in the Buruku Local Government Area and the upgrading of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme.

Speaking at the SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, Mr Utsev in a statement said the exercise was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to assess water facilities and dams nationwide and identify areas requiring government intervention.

He said the 5,000-hectare Katsina-Ala irrigable farmland, when completed, would create jobs 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 efficient delivery.

Mr Utsev urged residents to support the Federal Government’s initiatives, noting that the project could generate employment for about 2,000 youths, and encouraged state governments to leverage opportunities under the World Bank-supported SPIN Programme.

The National Project Coordinator of SPIN, Ipinlaye Olaiya, said the project was designed to increase food production, create jobs and contribute to national economic growth, adding that implementation would commence upon clearance from the development partner.

Some Katsina-Ala farmers, Jude Oke and Ugbema Godfrey, commended the Federal Government for the proposed irrigation project and appealed for support with farm inputs to boost dry-season farming.

The minister, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Emanso Umobong, and technical directors, also inspected the 30,000-litre capacity Semi-Urban Water Project in Ugbema, Mbaakura Ward, Buruku Local Government Area.

Mr Utsev said the project had attained about 80 per cent completion, with outstanding works on water reticulation.

The inspection team also visited the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme at Ameladu Community in the Gboko Local Government Area.

The minister said the scheme, which had reached about 90 per cent completion, 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 being installed at the intake point along the River Benue axis.

The tour ended at the Amgbo Dam in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area, where Mr Utsev said the dam would be expanded from 400 metres to 1,000 metres, with a reservoir capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres.

He said the dam would support water supply and irrigation, provide water to the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, create employment and promote NAN.

In his response, the Rector of the institution, Dr Tyover Ashinya, commended the Federal Government for the project, saying it would significantly address the institution’s water challenges.

(NAN)