The Federal Government on Friday reeled out the achievements recorded in the water and sanitation sector of Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed the highest political office in the land.
The scorecard was given by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Terlumun Utsev during Ministerial briefing at the Radio House, Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Government has in January 2024 generated over ₦7 billion from the concessioning of the 40MW Kashimbilla Hydropower Plant.
To achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Tinubu Administration, he said that the Water and Sanitation Sector infrastructure development in Nigeria was predicated on four (4) main Sub-Sectors.
According to him, they included Dams and Hydropower; Irrigation and Drainage; Water Supply; and
Sanitation.
The Minister disclosed that many projects under the four main sub sectors have been completed and commissioned in the past two years.
Under Dams and Hydropower, he said "Three (3) dams have been completed and commissioned: Rafin Yashin Multipurpose Dam, Niger State; Odo-Ape Hydropower Dam, Kogi State: and Amla Otukpo, Benue State.
"Under the Public Private Partnership arrangement: One (13) No. Hydropower Plant and a Cargo Agro-Allied Airport have been concessioned: 40MW Kashimbilla (Taraba State); and Kashimbilla Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport (Category B)."
The Minister disclosed that two (2) Nos. dam and hydropower projects are at various stages of PPP concession, including 460MW Katsina-Ala (Benue State); 20MW Farin Ruwa (Nasarawa State).
The benefits of the projects, he said include provision of additional power supply, aid movement of agricultural goods and promote development of cottage industries in the area.
Prof Utsev also revealed that in January 2024, the sum of ₦7,121,521,142.00 was generated as commencement fee for the first 5 years into the Special Concession Account of the Federal Government as Revenue from the Concession of the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant
Under Irrigation and Drainage, he said,
Four (4) irrigation projects were completed including Bakalori Irrigation Project, Zamfara State;
Rehabilitation of 9,490 Ha of gravity-fed systems were completed under TRIMING Project, to facilitate production of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice annually
For Dadin-Kowa Irrigation Project, Gombe State; the Minister said, there was completion of 2,100 Ha of irrigated farmland.
According to him, the projects have been completed and handed over to farmers for cultivation
Speaking on Micro Irrigation Project at Igbogidigidi Ipapo, Oyo State and
Micro Irrigation Project at Gari, Jigawa State, he said, that the two Micro Irrigation Systems cover 5Ha each, comprising solar powered borehole, water distribution network, green house facilities.
He said that the projects are designed to promote all year-round farming for communities in Ipapo, Gari and environs
He also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council meeting had given approval for the Reconstruction/Upgrade of the Alau Dam in Borno State to now include irrigation and hydropower components.
Prof Utsev said “The reconstruction/upgrade of the Dam was flagged-off on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Efforts are ongoing to ascertain the condition of other dams nationwide for their safety and integrity.
“Study and design are ongoing for construction/rehabilitation of Dura dam (Benue State), Lafia dam (Nasarawa State), Ado Awaye dam (Oyo State) and Galmara dam (Bauchi State) while that of Datsin Hausa in Adamawa State is completed, awaiting construction.
“Dams at advanced Stages of Completion; 14 dams are at advanced stages of completion, including Mangu dam, Plateau (91%), Ogbese dam, Ekiti State (70%), Adada Dam, Enugu State (90%) etc; and Irrigation Projects Five Irrigation Projects are at several stages of completion, including Middle Rima Valley, Sokoto State (90%), Tada Shonga, Kwara State (85%), Middle Ogun, Oyo State, Lower Ogun, Ogun State, Chouchi, Adamawa State.Eight (8) other Drip/Micro Irrigation Projects at selected locations are ongoing.”
The Minister revealed that 113 contracts were awarded in 2024 for the construction of water supply schemes, which are at various stages of completion.
He said that four Water Supply projects were flagged-off between December, 2024 – March, 2025, and are on-going, including: Greater Dutse Water Supply Project, Jigawa State; Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project in Ameladu Headworks, Benue Ugbema Water Supply Project, Benue State Wannune Water Supply Project, Benue State.
The Minister also said that the Federal Government is revitalizing the River Basin Development Authorities, (RBDAs) in the country.
He said “The Ministry is embarking on the following: Collaborating with private sector to re-equip the RBDAs to accelerate food production and rural development; Engaging State Governments to reclaim encroached RBDA farmlands by communities and individuals.
“Implementation of the Partial Commercialization programme is being vigorously pursued to attract private sector funding and make them commercially viable and self-reliant.”
Prof Utsev commended the Federal Government on efforts to eradicate open defecation in the country.
According to him, half of the 774 local governments in the country would achieve open defecation free by the end of year 2025.
He said “The ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign has gained remarkable momentum, which led to additional 40 LGAs attaining Open Defecation Free, ODF, status, bringing the total of ODF LGAs to 142; Developed the ODF jingles as sensitization strategy in five languages namely, English, Pidgin, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, which are aired weekly on radio and television reaching over 25 million Nigerians across all the States including FCT; Launched the Revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation Strategy towards an Open Defecation Free Nigeria (2025 – 2030); Constructed 159 Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in 23 States across the six Geo-Political Zones; andAwarded 38 Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in 15 States across the six Geo-Political Zones including the FCT.”
He said that 11 projects would be completed and commissioned in 2025, while the Ministry also plans to embark on fresh initiatives to improve sanitation facilities in schools, health centres, and public places; strengthen capacity of State and LGA WASH officials on demand creation and hygiene promotion approaches towards achieving ODF status; engage the Private Sector to leverage investment opportunities in ending open defecation in Nigeria under the Clean Nigeria Campaign in collaboration with UNICEF.
In his welcome address earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that the Ministerial Press Briefing is a vital platform to foster meaningful engagement between government representatives and citizens, both at home and abroad.
He also debunked the reports claiming that such Ministerial briefing were been planned to be held in London.
The Minister disclosed that the reforms of the administration are yielding results already.
He called on Nigerians to take special note of the recent improving statistics being released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC).