Water Minister Inspects Makurdi 3000 Hectares Irrigation Project

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has inspected the Makurdi 3000 hectares Irrigation Project under the Lower Benue River Basin Authority.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan in Abuja.

According to the statement, the minister emphasizes that the project highlights the present administration’s commitment to boosting food production through irrigation and dry-season farming to achieve food security in the country.

It reveals that 3,000 hectares of land have been allocated for dry-season farming, with 1,200 hectares specifically designated for irrigation purposes, while the remaining 1,800 hectares will be used for the World Bank Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project.

According to statement, to support these efforts, the government has awarded contracts for the construction of irrigation channels, drip irrigation systems, and the expansion of existing irrigation farms.

The statement adds that the ministry was also working on activating the hydropower components of various dams across Nigeria to boost energy supply.

According to the statement, the ongoing work at the Otukpo multipurpose water dam has reached an advanced stage and will be completed this year.

The statement explains that the Acting Managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Authority, Aondohemba Udu, represented by Mr. Sylvanus Apav, acknowledges the ministry’s support for the initiative.

It states that responding on behalf of the contractors handling the projects, Mr. Orje Torher assures that all projects will be completed according to specifications and within the stipulated timeframe.

The statement emphasizes that representative of the host community Mbaku, Mr. Christopher Senegh, expresses gratitude to the Federal Government for the laudable project, appeal for the provision of tractors to assist farmers in working seamlessly on their farms and called for improved security measures in the area.

Similarly, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Utsev inaugurated the 1.2-kilometer Ugondo Community Access Road in Makurdi, under the supervision of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, to improve farmers’ access to their farmlands.

This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance agricultural productivity and rural development.