The Federal Government has called on states government housing River Basins Authority accross the 12 Niger Upper and Lower River Basins, to ventured into creating irrigation facilities to boost food production for all Nigerians.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr. Prof. Joseph T. Utsev made the call while commissioning some numbers of irrigation farming facilities in Niger state, embarked upon by the management of Upper Niger Basin Development Authority in Minna, Niger state capital yesterday.
Professor Utsev called on the inhabitants of states benefitting from River Basins authority facilities to invest in irrigation farming to ensure food sufficiency as well as boosting their economy.
The minister said venturing by the state government in providing arable land and irrigation facilities was the only way to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and will lead to creation of wealth which he said was in line with the Renew Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tibubu.
The minister while thanking president Tibubu for his zeal and determination to create jobs and revive the country economy, however disclosed that all hands must be on deck to achieved it's mandate of boosting food production through irrigation farming activities.
Professor Joseph Utsev further stated that it will not be business as usual as the ministry under his watch was moving around to ensure that every one, irrespective of where he works, will do his or her work.
The minister had during his familiarisation visit to the state, commissioned some projects constructed by the Upper Niger River Basins Authority, which included the Heavy Duty Equippment Stand, Professor A.M Ali Empowerment Centre, Dam Road, Rafin Yashi Irrigation Scheme, Concrete Reservoir, Songhai Intergrated Farm, Rafin Yashi Dam and Agro Tourism facility, among others.
In her own remarks, Niger State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Hon Binta Mamman, who was on hand at the commissioning of these projects, assured the minister of Niger state government's preparedness to support federal government's drive to ensure robust food production through irrigation farming activities.
The commissioner said the state government under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, has passion for farming and was ever ready to provide land for investors who expressed their willingness to come to the state to invest in farming and doing other businesses that can boost the economy of the state, as well as creating wealth for it's citizentry which was aimed at reducing poverty.
Hon Binta Mamman, assured the minister of adequate security for all the projects and facilities constructed by Niger Upper River Basins Authority and commissioned by him and that it would be protected and utilized by the inhabitants of the state who were in various farming activities.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Niger Upper River Basins Authority, Prof Abdulkarim M. Aliyu, expressed his appreciation to the minister for his visit to the state to commissioned some numbers of projects initiated and contructed by his management.
Prof Abdulkarim Ali, told the visiting minister that his management was able to acquired an array of heavy duty and earth moving equipments which he said has properly positioned the authority to undertake it's focus on dredging of water ways for the purpose of increasing lands available for irrigation and will also go a long way in boosting the revenue generation capacity of the authority.
Niger state Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for more presence of the federal government to fully utilize the water bodies in the state.
The governor made the call on Tuesday, when he received on courtesy, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Engr. Joseph T. Utsev, at the Government House, Minna.
He observed that the state has four dams used for electricity generation, saying they were under utilized as only 30 percent of their potentials were being utilized.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, said the coming of the minister would be a blessing to the state as the present administration in the state has prioritized dams and irrigation activities and was making frantic efforts to revive irrigation activities that have been abandoned for years in the state.
He observed that the presence of the federal government in the irrigation sector of Kano state had not only developed the sector but also revived the economy of the state, asking for similar federal government presence in Niger state.
"Niger state is home of dams, especially in the northern Nigeria. I don't see any reason why the federal government will not come into our state to revitalize the irrigation system that have been abandoned since 1980s, and I hope the minister will help us to have more benefits of these water bodies in the state," the governor said.
He appreciated the federal government through the ministry for the rehabilitation work on the water works in Agaie and Lapai local government areas, saying they will forever remember it and asked that the state expected more of such interventions.
He disclosed that provision of water to its people, especially at the grassroots was not something the state can shoulder alone, and that they will appreciate it if the federal government assist in this direction.
Earlier, the Minister informed the governor that he was in the state for a familiarization visit to the Upper River Niger Basin Development Authority, which is an agency under the ministry of water resources and sanitation, saddled with the responsibility of developing ground and surface water resources for multi-purpose uses in Niger, Kaduna and FCT.
He said he was reliably informed about the existence of a working collaboration between the agency and Niger state government in the areas of irrigation activities and water supply which have been marvelous.
The minister noted that the relationship had yielded some positive results as the agency had succeeded in supervising the rehabilitation of Badeggi irrigation scheme, Suleja and Bida water works, as well as the construction of several boreholes across the state, hoping that the relationship would be sustained under his leadership.
He added that the agency has a dam to be use for water supply to Agaie and Lapai, while the one in Gbako and other places would be use for irrigation and water supply for the benefit of the people of Niger state.
The Minister also informed the governor that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have charged the ministry of water resources to collaborate and work to ensure food was made available for the people of Nigeria.
