ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu on Monday declare national emergency for food security, call for expand irrigation infrastructure and community-based water management across di country. Him make di declaration while inaugurating di 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage for Abuja. Tinubu, wey represent am be di Secretary to di Government of di Federation, George Akume, urge African nations to use innovative and sustainable ways to tackle di major challenges wey dey face irrigation and water management for di continent.
“This conference theme, ‘Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crisis in Africa,’ na call to action for make sure say agriculture dey sustainable and economy dey resilient,” Tinubu talk. “Africa dey face serious troubles to unlock its irrigation potential, wey dey due to inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and governance issues. Dis conference dey provide important platform for us to chart road ahead together.”
Di President also talk say Nigeria get over 3.1 million hectares of land wey fit be irrigated, especially around di Niger and Benue river basins. Him emphasize say unlocking di value of dis land go help to achieve food self-sufficiency for di nation.
Minista of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, also contribute for di conference, him talk about di strides achieve under di Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project. Utsev mention say di government don complete plenty landmark projects, as dem dey prepare for di next phase, di Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, wey go close di gaps wey remain and also optimize di economic value of water resources to boost food security. “With di TRIMING project dey wind down, we ready to start SPIN project in partnership with di World Bank,” him say.
According to di minister, di TRIMING project wey last over seven years don achieve many successes, including completion of di Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori irrigation schemes, alongside 90 percent completion of di Middle Rima Valley irrigation project. Di project also don support interventions for states like Ondo, Kwara, Benue, Kebbi, Edo, Adamawa, and Oyo. Him add say dem don establish Water Users Associations, farmer management centers, and help market links for key crops like rice and tomato.
Utsev just talk say di River Basin Development Authorities don develop more than 153,000 hectares of irrigable land and dem dey try commercialize dem partially to invite private sector investment. Him also mention di 2025 Flood Outlook and Risk Management Strategy, wey dey aim to reduce di impacts of flood on agriculture.
Di Head of di Civil Service of di Federation, Dr. Didi Wilson-Jack, don call for renewed commitment from all levels of government to ensure food security for di nation. Former Permanent Secretary for di Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Godknows Igali, talk about di need for strategic planning, especially as Nigeria dey face population growth. Him stress say professional staffing and proper management of river basins dey important, and state governments must play active role for water governance and food systems.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State express concern about di shrinking farming seasons because of climate change, alerting say di unpredictable rainfall patterns dey bring uncertainty for farmers. “Our fertile lands dey turn to dust. Irrigation don become necessity, no be luxury. Innovation must not be seen as privilege of di few; we need to empower women and youth, wey dey frontline of agriculture,” Zulum talk. Him appeal to development partners to react properly to di challenge of water access and rural farming for Africa.
President of di International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, Dr. Marco Arcieri, describe di conference as very essential. “Dis fit be turning point. We don celebrate big ideas and set tangible goals to tackle di pressing challenges. We dey committed to support Africa as e dey face population growth and climate stress,” Arcieri talk. Him emphasize di role of young professionals to drive sustainable solutions to di continent’s water issues.
Mr. Ibrahim Musa, wey dey lead di African Regional Working Group, express optimism about di conference go lead to innovative approaches and actionable outcomes for Africa unique irrigation needs. Di conference go continue for Abuja until April 17, with technical sessions, policy dialogues, and field visits to irrigation sites across Nigeria.
