What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

According to a World Bank’s Project Information Document for the proposed project posted on its website on Monday, the SPIN project focuses on four critical areas, which include institutional strengthening and capacity building; irrigation modernisation; improvements in dam operations and safety; and project management.

The proposed approval date for the SPIN project is September 26, 2024.

This area will reinforce federal and state institutions responsible for water resource management. It includes developing national dam safety guidelines, training for water resources and irrigation management, and creating a comprehensive hydropower master plan.

The document read, “Nigeria faces water security challenges, which impact water availability for drinking water, energy and food production, and are increasingly exacerbated by climate change, putting livelihoods and economic development at risk. Harnessing water storage and dam safety is central to climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nigeria. It is a prerequisite to improving water management for water supply, irrigation, and hydropower generation and offers protection from floods and droughts.

“Nigeria has over 400 dams and an estimated total combined storage of 59 billion cubic meters. 46 per cent of dams are federally owned and are managed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, through River Basin Development Authorities. 48 per cent of dams are state-owned and are managed by a state ministry. Many dams are incomplete and more than 50 per cent of the large dams built in the 1970s and 80s require rehabilitation.

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