Minister of water resources urges state governments to provide land for irrigation farming
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has called on state governments to provide irrigable lands to 12 river basins for irrigation farming.
He made the call during a familiarisation visit to the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA) where he also paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger in Minna.
Utsev disclosed that President Bola Ahmed had given the ministry a matching order to boost food production and ensure that food was available for Nigerians to consume and export.
“As part of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed, all hands must be on deck to ensure maximum food security in the country, therefore, it is not going to be business as usual ” he said
He called on state governments to also venture into creation of irrigation facilities and encourage people of the state to key into irrigation farming to boost food production in the country.
According to him, we are not relenting to see that the emergency placed on food production is achieved in line with the president renewed hope agenda and we are leaving no stone unturned.
He disclosed he had instructed and given a target to all managing directors of river basin to key into the renewed hope agenda to engage in wet and dry season farming to improve food production.
The minister told the governor that river basin supervised rehabilitation of Bedeggi irrigation scheme, Suleja and Bida water works and construction of boreholes in nooks and crannies of the state.
He pledged more collaboration with the state government, adding that UNRBDA has a dam capable of supplying water to Agaie and Lapai towns and dams in Gbako and Egbea Gaba for irrigation water supply to the people.
Responding, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, said that the four dams hosted by the were not adequately harnessed as only 30 per cent of the dams were used for power generation.
Bago, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba, said the state was challenged with water works issues and called for Federal government intervention to address the issues.
The minister who was accompanied by Prof. Muhammad Ali, Managing Director of UNRBDA inaugurated 879 metres Rafin-Yashin road and Rafin-Yashin irrigation scheme.
Other projects inaugurated by the minister were concrete reservoir to supply water to Rafin-Yashin irrigation scheme and Songhai farm as well as inspection of facilities and equipment built and purchased by UNRBDA.
