The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving national food security through strategic investments in water infrastructure, irrigation development and institutional reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This policy direction was restated by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, at the opening of a two-day Management Retreat of the Ogun–Oshun River Basin Development Authority in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Irrigation and Drainage at the Ministry, Mrs. Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, the Minister said the River Basin Authorities remain critical to the Federal Government’s strategy for agricultural expansion, rural development, and water security.
Professor Utsev commended the Ogun–Oshun River Basin Development Authority for its progress in expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving access to potable water, and strengthening climate-resilient flood control systems across the South-West.
According to the Minister, the Authority is implementing a target of 300 greenhouses, with over 70 already completed, constructing more than 2,000 boreholes to improve water supply and sanitation, and executing major flood and erosion control works at Owakurudu in Ogun State.
While acknowledging these milestones, Professor Utsev charged the Authority to scale up delivery through improved revenue generation, asset redevelopment, and the Federal Government’s partial commercialisation framework, which is designed to attract private sector investment through Public-Private Partnerships.
He stressed that institutional efficiency, accountability, and strategic planning remain central to the success of Nigeria’s water sector reforms and food security drive.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Ogun–Oshun River Basin Board, Honourable Segun Odebunmi, said the retreat provides a platform for strengthening corporate governance, staff performance, and procurement compliance in line with national WASH sector objectives.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Authority, Doctor Adedeji Ashiru, said the retreat was convened to strengthen leadership coordination, review the 2026 Work Plan, and align operations with measurable development targets.
He noted that procurement capacity building by the Bureau of Public Procurement was a strategic component of the retreat, aimed at strengthening transparency, value-for-money and service delivery across Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Lagos States.
Dr. Ashiru reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to institutional excellence, investor confidence, job creation, and sustainable water resources development in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The retreat brought together Executive Directors, Directors, and technical experts from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
