Business
Minister Affirms FG’s Commitment To Investment In Irrigation

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has assured of the Federal Government’s determination to massively invest in irrigation in order to diversify the nation’s economy.
Adamu stated this recently in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the Ministry’s South-West regional workshop on the establishment/strengthening of water users’ associations for the management of public irrigation schemes.
He said the government’s plan to diversify the economy and its determination to be self-sufficient in food production informed the ministry’s decision to shift its focus from rain-fed agriculture to irrigated agriculture.
According to the minister, the Water Bill, being presented by the Federal Government, was put together to address various issues in the water sector.
“Permit me to reiterate the strong commitment of the Federal Government to massively invest in irrigation sub-sector to make Nigeria food and water secure by moving from drought-prone, rain-fed agriculture to irrigated agriculture for self-sufficiency.
“This workshop is the third in the series of Workshops planned to establish or strengthen (where it exists) water users of public irrigation schemes for effective and efficient management of the schemes”, he said
The Minister, however, expressed hope that the move to massively invest in irrigation, would be welcomed by stakeholders, and that such would be sustainable.