The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, on Friday, said nine Irrigation projects were completed between 2016 and 2022 to boost water resources and irrigation development in the country.
Adamu told the media in Abuja that the feat was part of the ministry’s water resources and irrigation development roadmap on his assumption of office in 2015.
He said the National Irrigation Programme 2016- 2030, being implemented, was aimed at reducing dependency on rain-fed agriculture, boosting agriculture production, and supporting the nation’s quest for food security.
“Nine irrigation projects were completed between 2016 and 2022, they are; Sabke, Shagari, Sepeteri, and Ejule-Ojebe Irrigation Projects.
“Others are the Mamu Akwa Drainage and Land Reclamation, Promotion of Gender/Women participation in irrigated agriculture, Centre Pivot System Irrigation, Obinda Drainage Project, Supply and Installation of Tubewells and Water pumps, Phase one.’’
Adamu said the ministry had also completed and concessioned three hydropower projects to boost energy sufficiency in hydropower generation in the country.
They are the 30 MW Gurara Hydropower Project, in Kaduna state, the 40 MW Kashimbila Hydropower Project in Taraba, and the 40 MW Dadin-Kowa Hydropower Project in Gombe state.
The minister said upon assumption of office, his resolve was to effectively develop the Water Sector through the development of a Blueprint and Action Plan to strengthen the River Basin Development Authorities.
Related Articles
This decision, he said, had seen the creation of 78,298 both direct and indirect jobs for youths across the 12 River Basin Development Authorities.
He said eight priority dam projects were ongoing, saying improved management and operations had resulted in an increase of 1.8 Billion cubic meters of impounded water across various dams and reservoirs.
“This is bringing the total volume of impounded water to 30.1 billion cubic meters, we have eight ongoing priority dam projects.
“They are: Mangu Dam, Ingawa/Dallaje Dam, Ile-Ife Dam, Ogbesse Dam, Kontagora Dam, Irawo Dam, Nkari Dam, and Jare Dam, many of them are between 40 and 80 percent completed.’’
According to him, 18 Songhai Integrated Farms have been fully established, while three are under construction to boost agricultural production and achieve integrated rural development.
The minister said 6,761 water schemes were developed across an urban, small town, and rural areas of the country, thereby producing 794,334,000 liters/day and serving 32,008,600 Nigerians.
He said that out of the 36 inherited abandoned water supply projects from previous governments, 30 had been completed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
