Towards sustainable water infrastructure development in Nigeria, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening its over 200 large dams that underpin national water supply, food security, dams safety, improving water security and harnessing Nigeria's hydropower potential.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, represented by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, stated this on Tuesday at the 2026 National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Committee on Large Dams (NICOLD) themed "Sustainable Dams for Water, Energy and Climate Resilience" in Abuja.
The Minister, while describing dams as strategic national assets that support agriculture, hydropower generation, flood management and economic development, highlighted the significant importance of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, supported by the World Bank, as a key initiative to strengthen dam safety, modernise irrigation infrastructure and promote hydropower development.
In a statement by Agbajor Matthew, Assistant Director (Information & PR), the Minister also emphasised the importance of regular dam inspections, preventive maintenance, climate-resilient engineering and improved flood forecasting through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) as a key sustainable dam infrastructure development strategies.
He urged stakeholders to translate the conference deliberations into practical recommendations for sustainable dam management.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, represented by the Director II in the Department of Dams and Reservoirs, Stella Arachie, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, improving dam safety and promoting integrated water resources development.
He commended NICOLD for advancing professional development, technical knowledge exchange and the adoption of international best practices, assuring the committee of the Ministry's continued collaboration.
Earlier, the President of NICOLD, Engr. Johnson Adewumi, highlighted the committee's immense contributions to major dam projects, professional training for Nigerian engineers and cooperation with international organisations like the Canadian Dam Association for national development.
He called for stronger private-sector participation, modern technologies and environmentally sustainable engineering practices to address the growing challenges of climate change, flooding and drought.
The conference brought together senior government officials, professionals and critical stakeholders in the water and dam engineering sector towards exchanging ideas, knowledge and developing strategies for strengthening Nigeria's dam infrastructure, water security and climate resilience.