Tinubu urges shift in water management to tackle food Insecurity

African nations have been asked by President Bola Tinubu to use creative approaches in order to address the continent’s water management and irrigation problems.

Tinubu made this request on Monday when opening the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage, which is presently taking place in Abuja, on behalf of Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

As a clear call to action for sustainable agricultural and economic resilience, he emphasized the significance of the conference’s topic, “Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crisis in Africa.”

“Inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and governance issues continue to pose significant challenges to Africa’s irrigation potential,” Tinubu stated.

“This conference gives us a chance to work together to map out a path forward.”

The President emphasized Nigeria’s agricultural potential, pointing out that the nation has more than 3.1 million hectares of arable land spread throughout important river basins including the Niger and Benue.

He continued by saying that his government has declared a National Emergency on Food Security under his Renewed Hope Agenda, which involves expanding irrigation infrastructure and implementing participatory water resource management.

Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, stated in his speech that the Federal Government has finished and is carrying out a number of historic projects as part of the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project.

According to Utsev, in order to promote sustainable agriculture and food security, the next Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project would maximize the socioeconomic potential of stored water while addressing important gaps found during the TRIMING project.

“With the completion of the TRIMING project, Nigeria is set to begin the implementation of its successor project, the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN), in partnership with the World Bank,” he stated. This program will help us bridge the gaps and build on TRIMING’s achievements.

The completion of the Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori irrigation schemes, a 90% progress level on the Middle Rima Valley irrigation project, and ongoing irrigation interventions in Ondo, Kwara, Benue, Kebbi, Edo, Adamawa, and Oyo states are just a few of the noteworthy accomplishments he claims the seven-year-long TRIMING project brought about.

Tinubu urges shift in water management to tackle food Insecurity

According to him, additional significant achievements include the creation of farmer management centers, Water Users Associations (WUAs), and market connections for important agricultural value chains like rice and tomatoes.

The minister also revealed that in an effort to draw in private sector investment, the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) are now partially commercializing the more than 153,000 hectares of arable land they have developed.

In order to lessen the effect of floods on agricultural output, he also cited the 2025 Flood Outlook and Risk Management Strategy.

“This conference offers a forum for knowledge exchange, innovation exploration, and fortifying our shared determination to surmount the urgent obstacles of water management and irrigation development in Africa,” he said.

Didi Wilson Jack, the head of the Federation’s civil service, urged a fresh dedication at all levels of government to securing Nigeria’s food future.

Speaking on behalf of a former permanent secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Godknows Igali, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, also emphasized the need for strategic action in light of Nigeria’s expanding population.

We need to make sure that our river basins are adequately tended to and manned by experts. Because they are important stakeholders in this objective, sub-nationals must also work together,” he remarked.

Tinubu urges shift in water management 

Noting that previous attempts to bring such a meeting during his tenure did not succeed, he praised the current conference’s achievements.

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Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum lamented the dwindling farming seasons brought on by climate change and cautioned that farmers are becoming more unsure about what to plant.

Our formerly rich terrain is becoming dusty. Nowadays, irrigation is a need rather than a luxury. Innovation shouldn’t be viewed as a luxury reserved for a select few. We need to empower our young people and women who work in agriculture,” Zulum said.

He urged development partners to pay closer attention to Africa’s particular problems, particularly those that impact rural agricultural communities and water availability.

Tinubu urges shift in water management 

Dr. Marco Arcieri, president of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), hailed the meeting as crucial and necessary.

This might be a pivotal moment. We honor significant concepts and have objectives to address the issues at hand. We are dedicated to helping the continent deal with the challenges posed by an expanding population and climate change,” Arcieri stated.

Under the direction of Engineer Ibrahim Musa, the African Regional Working Group emphasized that the conference’s topics mirror Africa’s particular irrigation development difficulties.

He was hopeful that fresh exchanges would result in creative solutions and fruitful results.

Tinubu urges shift in water management, This Technical workshops, policy discussions, and site visits around Nigeria’s irrigation zones are all part of the conference, which is scheduled to run until April 17 in Abuja.