The Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) is set to collaborate with the Kwara State Government to enhance food production in the State in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ensure food security in Nigeria.
This significant development was announced during the familiarization tour by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, FNICE, FNIWE
to the River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Friday, 6th October, 2023.
The Honourable Minister, explained that the visit aimed to assess ongoing Projects, Programmes, and challenges within the River Basin Authority and emphasized the Federal Government’s vision to strengthen the operations of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities in Nigeria by enhancing their capacity and securing increased funding to fulfill their mandates under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Prof. Utsev also highlighted the ongoing implementation of the partial Commercialization of the River Basin Development Authorities through introduction of Public Private Partnerships, for increased infrastructure development and procurement of new equipment for enhanced operations.
He called for closer collaborations and partnerships with State Governments to expand cultivation of irrigable lands for food production, a crucial step in achieving the nation’s food security goals under President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
According to him, the Federal Government’s commitment to Water Resources projects development in Kwara State include completed Dams for irrigation, various Irrigation Schemes
, Flood and Erosion Control Projects, rehabilitation of Urban Water Schemes, empowerment and Extension Services, Rural Water Supply through boreholes and agricultural land acquisition among others.
His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, the Executive Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, welcomed the Honourable Minister and his team and applauded the River Basin Authorities for their roles in providing water supply for agriculture. He emphasized the need for seamless collaboration between the State and the River Basin Authorities to avoid duplication of projects and urged the immediate dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue to address food production, seasonal farming and recurring flooding challenges.
The Honourable Minister’s visit also included stops at the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari’s palace, the State Police Command and the University of Ilorin, where Water Supply Projects constructed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources were commissioned.
The Honourable Minister presided over a graduation ceremony of the Ministry’s Graduates/Youths Empowerment Programme (GYEP) at the River Basin office, where starter Packs such as water pumps, fertilizers, starter stipends and certificates were distributed to beneficiaries.
During the familiarization visit, an array of rich farm produce by the Directorate of Agriculture services of the River Basin was on display.
The visit culminated with the official foundation laying stone for a 155-kilowatt power (kwp), solar-powered micro-grid for the River Basin Headquarters office and a tour of the Songhai Model Farms.
