The federal government on Wednesday said it has closed critical gaps in Nigeria’s water supply, hydropower generation, and irrigation capacity over the past two years, unveiling sweeping progress at a stakeholders’ engagement held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the Ministry had made “substantial, measurable gains’’ in delivering projects across the country, noting that over 32 million Nigerians have gained access to clean water through more than 6,700 completed or rehabilitated schemes.
He announced that the Kashimbilla Multipurpose Dam is now fully completed, with its 40-megawatt hydropower plant supplying electricity to the national grid, alongside Gurara and Dadin Kowa Dams, bringing total renewable energy output from the three sites to 110MW.
The Minister added that the Kashimbilla Hydropower Plant and the Kashimbilla Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport have been concessioned, generating over N7 billion in commencement fees.
He reported major progress at several ongoing dam projects, including 90 per cent completion at Mangu Dam in Plateau State, 78 per cent at Adada Dam in Enugu, and 65 per cent at Ogbesse Dam in Ekiti, while Farin Ruwa and Alau Dams are recording steady advances. Rehabilitation of older reservoirs in Oyo, Benue, Kano, and Jigawa States has also been concluded.
On irrigation and food production, the Minister said 2,000 hectares of irrigable land have been delivered to farmers through the Dadin Kowa scheme in Gombe State.
The Middle Rima and Middle Ogun Irrigation Projects have advanced significantly, while solar-powered micro-irrigation systems in Jigawa, Oyo, Kwara, and Kebbi States have been completed. Twenty-six states have so far signified interest in the World Bank-supported SPIN project aimed at modernising irrigation nationwide.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing expansion in rural water supply, saying that about 500 new solar-powered borehole projects have been executed for more than two million beneficiaries.
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He said sanitation coverage has improved through the construction of 5,238 public sanitation facilities, with 162 Local Government Areas certified open-defecation-free under the Clean Nigeria Campaign. Two national water-quality reference laboratories in Asaba and Umuahia have also been completed.
On flooding, the Minister said the 2024 and 2025 Annual Flood Outlooks identified 3,436 at-risk communities across 33 states and the FCT. In response, the Ministry has introduced new mitigation measures, including a National Flood Insurance Scheme, the Niger Flood Project, an Integrated Climate Resilience Innovation Project, and a new Annual Drought Outlook.
He clarified that no water has been released from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, urging the public to rely on verified updates from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
He further noted that the twelve River Basin Development Authorities have collectively developed 154,000 hectares of irrigable land, supporting more than 1.6 million farmers engaged in year-round agriculture. Several dams and water projects, including Rafin Yashin, Odo Ape, and Amla Otukpo, have also been completed as part of wider efforts to revive dry-season farming.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, said the engagement was part of the Federal Government’s push to strengthen accountability, transparency, and stakeholder participation.
He assured that inputs from stakeholders would be used to refine ongoing reforms and strengthen service delivery.
The Minister said key targets for 2026 include completing the Adada, Mangu, and Ogbesse Dams, operationalising the Kashimbilla water-supply network, expanding micro-irrigation schemes, and enhancing citizen feedback systems as part of broader reforms aimed at improving water security and national development.
