By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the World Bank to expand access to safe water and boost food security across the country.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made this known while receiving a World Bank delegation in Abuja, saying the partnership would accelerate the implementation of critical projects under the ministry.
Utsev said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is focused on improving access to safe water, achieving food security through irrigated agriculture and creating jobs for Nigerians.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration 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 said.
The minister added that deeper collaboration with the World Bank would fast-track the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project and other high-impact projects being executed by the ministry.
“Stronger collaboration with the World Bank will fast-track the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project and other critical, high-impact projects being implemented by the ministry with the support of the World Bank,” Utsev added.
He also assured the delegation of the ministry’s participation in the Africa Water Forum scheduled to hold later this month in N’Djamena, Chad.
Earlier, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the SPIN Project, Zack Zieglhifer, and the Co-Task Team Leader, Chinedu Umolu, said the forum would provide a platform for high-level discussions on water security across Africa.
According to them, the event will feature sessions aimed at stimulating dialogue, shaping policy decisions and securing concrete commitments, with a strong focus on innovative financing for water security on the continent.