FG completed nine irrigation projects in six years, says minister
AREWA AGENDA – Suleiman Adamu, minister of water resources, says President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration completed nine irrigation projects between 2016 and 2022.
Adamu said the projects were initiated as part of the ministry’s water resources and irrigation development roadmap in 2015.
In an interview with NAN, the minister said the national irrigation programme 2016 – 2030 was targeted at 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,” Adamu said.
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“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 tube wells and water pumps, phase one.’’
The minister added that the ministry completed and concessioned three hydropower projects to boost energy sufficiency in hydropower generation.
According to Adamu, the three hydropower projects are 30 mw Gurara hydropower project in Kaduna state, 40 mw Kashimbila hydropower project in Taraba, and the 40 mw Dadin-Kowa hydropower project in Gombe state.
He said works have started on eight other priority dam projects.
“This is bringing the total volume of impounded water to 30.1 billion cubic metres. We have eight ongoing priority dam projects,” the minister said.
“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.’’
