The twelve River Basin Development Authorities RBDAs have vowed to forge stronger partnerships and adopt modern technologies in support of the Federal Government’s food security drive.
Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, Alhaji Abubakar Malam, stated this while addressing newsmen at the close of a two-day retreat in Abuja.
Alhaji Malam, speaking on behalf of the RBDA Boards and Management, explained that ageing facilities, extreme weather patterns, and insecurity will continue to challenge their operations if immediate action is not taken.
“Our facilities are obsolete, and climate change is compounding the situation with flooding, erosion, and erratic weather. Yet, we remain undeterred. We are determined to innovate, adopt modern irrigation technologies, and change the narrative,” he stated.
He stressed that the dilapidated state of infrastructure and outdated equipment has hampered optimal productivity across the zones.
According to him, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 13 (Climate Action)—the RBDAs are strategising to expand irrigated farmland, equip farmers with modern skills, and improve value chain activities to reduce food waste and boost market access.
Alhaji Malam who noted that the River Basins cannot achieve these objectives in isolation stated that the agencies will maintain open-door policies to attract private sector investment under the partial commercialisation framework introduced by the Federal Government.
“We are committed to building strong partnerships, especially with state governments, to align local implementation with national priorities. Collaboration is key to enhancing extension services, ensuring community needs are met, and improving project outcomes,” he stressed.
He therefore used the opportunity to urge stakeholders, including development partners, to seize the emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s agriculture sector and support efforts to revitalise rural economies through sustainable irrigation and agribusiness development.
The retreat, which brought together the leadership of all twelve RBDAs, ended with a renewed commitment to deliver measurable results in food production and contribute meaningfully to the government’s target of improved food availability and affordability by 2027.
