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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced plans to boost food production and create jobs through the implementation of a 5,000-hectare irrigation project under the World Bank–supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) programme in Benue State.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection of the proposed SPIN project site in Katsina-Ala, alongside the ongoing Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project and the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan, Utsev said the inspection was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to assess dams and water supply facilities nationwide and identify areas requiring government intervention.
He explained that the Katsina-Ala irrigation project, when completed, would support year-round farming, improve crop yields and create employment opportunities for youths. According to him, the Federal Government plans to concession the dam component of the project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to ensure speedy execution.
“The project, when fully developed, will create employment for about 2,000 youths and significantly enhance food production,” Utsev said, urging residents of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area to support the initiative.
The minister also called on state governments to take advantage of opportunities offered by the World Bank–supported SPIN programme, noting that the initiative would contribute to national economic growth.
Utsev further listed other ongoing dam and irrigation projects in Benue State, including those at Wannune, Amgbo, Atee, Dura and Amla, as well as irrigable farmlands in Makurdi.
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Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of SPIN, Engr. Ipinlaye Olaiya, said the Katsina-Ala irrigation project was designed to boost food production, generate employment and increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
He added that implementation would commence once clearance was received from the development partner.
Farmers in Katsina-Ala, Jude Oke and Ugbema Godfrey, commended the Federal Government for the proposed project and appealed for the provision of farm inputs, including fertilisers and tools, to support dry-season farming.
During the tour, the minister inspected the 30,000-litre capacity Semi-Urban Water Project at Ugbema in Buruku Local Government Area, noting that the project had reached about 80 per cent completion, with water reticulation works outstanding.
The Head of Ugbema Mbaakura Ward, Chief Zaki Dzer Ager, said the project would provide potable water and address the community’s long-standing water challenges.
At Ameladu Community in Gboko, Utsev inspected the ongoing upgrade of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme, which he said had reached 90 per cent completion and would serve four local government areas, including parts of Tarka and Ushongo.
The inspection tour ended at the Amgbo Dam in Wannune, where the minister said the dam would be expanded from 400 metres to 1,000 metres, with a storage capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres of water.
He added that the upgraded dam would provide water for domestic use and irrigation, create jobs, attract tourism and supply water to the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune.
Reacting, the Rector of the institution, Dr Tyover Ashinya, commended the Federal Government for the intervention, saying it would address the polytechnic’s water challenges.
