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By Benjamin Orisemeke
The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, says the Ministry completed 16 water projects in across the Nigeria in the past 3 years.
The Minister who disclosed this while briefing journalists on his stewardship in the Ministry between November 2015 and November 2018, added that the Ministry hopes to complete another 20 projects nationwide.
Among the projects to be completed the Minister noted include: Zobe water supply project, rehabilitation and rehabilitation of Fugar water works in Edo state, Dukku regional water supply project, Gombe state, Kazaure water supply project in Jigawa statel Kantagora Auna dam project, Niger state, Bagwai irrigation project in Kano, Adani Rice irrigation project in Anambra and Ogbese dam in Ekiti state.
He said: “We are committed to completing all on-going viable projects in the Ministry to derive optimum benefits from government’s intervention. In is instructive to note that since the inception of this administration, my Ministry has initiated only 2 new projects. This underscores our emphasis on completion of the numerous on-going and abandoned projects we inherited.”
Engr. Adamu further noted that in order to aid diversification of the economy, guarantee food security and create employment, the Ministry initiated the National Irrigation Development programme aimed at establishing “additional 100,000Haof irrigated farmland by 2020 and another 500,000Ha by 2030.
“We also plan for additional 1 million hectares of irrigated land to be developed by the private sector and state governments within the same period. Our current effort will enable us deliver 42,00Ha in 2018 and 41,000Ha in 2019,” he added.
He also revealed that the World Bank is supporting the implementation of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING) with a credit facility of $495 million the rehabilitation/expansion of 42,000Ha of irrigation land by 2020.
Engr. Adamu also highlighted some of his achievement since assuming office to include: the implementation of the National Resources Masterplan and Roadmap; collaborating with state governments to proffer solution to Nigeria’s water challenges through the National WASH Action Plan; revitalization of River Basin Development Authorities; and commissioning of the National Water Resources Information system (NAWIS).
In addition, the Ministry signed a MoU with Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and a Chinese company to undertake further feasibility study on the proposed Inter Basin Water Project among others.
The Minister insisted that going forward, the Ministry will pursue the passage of the National Water Resources Bill into law; ensure completion of ongoing projects; implement the National Irrigation Development Programme; and the continued reform of the RBDAs.
