The Federal Government has stated that Nigeria has enough water resources to generate up to 14,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, a significant increase from the current energy generation.
This was revealed as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at sustainable development.
The MoU is geared towards implementing the World Bank-funded Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN), which seeks to harness Nigeria’s abundant hydropower resources.
The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday in Abuja and was attended by senior government officials, development partners from the World Bank, and other key stakeholders.
According to a statement from the media aide to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, this event marks a collaborative effort to boost Nigeria’s hydropower potential and enhance the country’s energy security.
Minister Adelabu emphasized the importance of the SPIN programme, noting that it would contribute to diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix, improving energy security, and combating climate change.
He highlighted that hydropower currently contributes about 20 percent of Nigeria’s 5,000MW grid supply.
However, he pointed out that Nigeria’s hydropower potential is far greater, with an estimated capacity of 14,000MW, which remains largely untapped.
Adelabu stressed that this MoU is a step forward in developing hydropower projects and ensuring that the nation’s vast water resources are utilized for sustainable energy production.
This collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Water Resources is seen as crucial to Nigeria’s long-term energy strategy, with the aim of boosting the country’s energy generation capacity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and contributing to global efforts against climate change.
The SPIN programme is expected to improve both energy production and irrigation systems, benefiting various sectors, particularly agriculture, and providing a more reliable and environmentally friendly energy supply.