The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to the successful implementation of the Federal Government and World Bank-sponsored Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project in Nigeria (SPIN) in the state.
Governor Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, gave the assurance while receiving the SPIN Project National Team at the Government House, Calabar on Tuesday.
Rt. Hon. Odey described the SPIN initiative as a critical intervention aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity, enhancing food security, and expanding access to sustainable power for productive use across the state. He noted that the project aligns with the administration’s People-First agenda, particularly in the areas of economic diversification, rural development, and agribusiness expansion.
According to him, the integration of sustainable energy solutions with modern irrigation infrastructure will not only promote all-year-round farming but also stimulate agro-processing, create jobs, and increase income opportunities for farmers and rural communities especially the host community.
“As a state government, we are fully prepared to provide the enabling environment, institutional support, and necessary collaboration required to ensure the project achieves its intended objectives for the betterment of our people” Odey stated.
In his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon Johnson Ebokpo, KSM, commended the Federal Government and the World Bank for the initiative, stating that the project would significantly improve irrigation services, optimize water resource management, and transition farmers from subsistence to commercial-scale production.
The Commissioner further stated that the project would help transition farmers from subsistence practices to commercial-scale production, enhance mechanization, and strengthen extension services. He assured the delegation of the Ministry’s technical support and commitment to ensuring that Cross Riverians fully benefit from the project’s interventions.
Earlier, Engr. Hauwa Mohammed Sadique, leader of the SPIN delegation, commended the state government for its level of preparedness in implementing the SPIN Project, revealing that it has fulfilled nearly all the conditions set by the World Bank, including the payment of the required counterpart funding to commence the project. She further disclosed that the team would conduct a site inspection in Bansara, Ogoja Local Government Area, to assess the physical facilities designated for the project, including the available land area, installed pipes, structural maps, and other key components.
She noted that the SPIN initiative has been introduced across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Cross River State emerging as one of the few states that have demonstrated genuine readiness and commitment in meeting the stipulated prerequisites.
Also speaking, the Project Consultant, Engr. Dr. Ndifon Agbiji, stated that SPIN is a Federal Government and World Bank-sponsored initiative backed by a $500 million World Bank loan facility. He disclosed that the project’s structural design is ready and covers 3,000 hectares of land, with an initial phase of 650 hectares of fully irrigated farmland in Bansara, Ogoja Local Government Area. He pledged timely delivery of the project, noting that it will benefit the state and improve its socioeconomic status.