Tinubu orders integrity tests on dams nationwide

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to carry out integrity tests on all dams in Nigeria to ascertain their suitability for multiple economic purposes .

This came to the fore when the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Terlumun Utsev, hosted the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, and his team at his office in Abuja.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan.

Utsev disclosed that President Tinubu has mandated the ministry to “assess the status and integrity of all dams across the country.”

This, he said, is to “determine their suitability for water supply, irrigation, flood control, and hydropower generation.”

According to him, integrity tests will ensure that the dams significantly boost their economic value and support national development goals.

The President has expressed his determination to build a $1 trillion economy and believes that the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has a wealth of natural and infrastructural assets that can be mobilised towards this goal.

Prof Utsev, during the courtesy call, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring sustained collaboration with the ICRC to deepen Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Prof Utsev emphasised that an enhanced partnership with the ICRC is vital for expanding access to water for the Nigerian population for domestic and industrial uses, as well as agriculture.

He stated that, for sanitation infrastructure across Nigeria, PPPs remain a critical strategy in mobilising private sector participation and investment into key sectors of the economy.

According to him: “Our collaboration must be sustained to fast-track access to safe water, improved sanitation, and increased food production. We are particularly keen on driving PPP models through the River Basin Development Authorities.”

The Minister highlighted the ongoing National Campaign to End Open Defecation (ODF), noting that a clean and healthy environment is essential for attracting investment and improving public health.

In his remarks, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the ICRC, commended the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation for its leadership in advancing key infrastructure projects aligned with national and global goals, including SDG 6.

He emphasised the importance of PPPs in delivering impactful, transparent, and bankable initiatives, citing major projects such as the Dasin-Hausa Dam, Farin Ruwa, Manya, Bawarku, Grand Katsina-Ala, Kashimbila Airport, and the Gurara II Dam.

He proposed deeper collaboration in expanding rural water infrastructure, rehabilitating dams, enhancing sanitation facilities, and scaling hydropower. He also recommended innovative PPP models such as a National Sanitation Framework, desalination projects, bulk water supply schemes, and smart water utilities under PPP arrangements.

Dr Ewalefoh concluded by encouraging the management of the River Basin Development Authorities to attend the PPP National Summit, slated for the second week in June this year, to foster partnerships and mobilise investment in the water and sanitation sectors.