The minister of state for water resources and sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq, has charged the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority and its management to embrace partial commercialization of the river basin and leverage the numerous opportunities at their disposal for increased food production and agricultural sustainability.
The minister emphasized that partial commercialization of river basins is not a complete sale of the basins but an invitation for capable investors to contribute and foster increased food production, which will reduce hunger, poverty, unemployment and create wealth among Nigerians.
Goronyo gave this charge during his recent visit to the headquarters of SRRBDA, where he had a meeting with both the management and staff of the river basin, as part of his familiarization tour.
The minister commended the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority’s management for the significant infrastructural development, both completed and ongoing, at the headquarters, including the Songhai model integrated farm, featuring cultivated crops in greenhouses, poultry, python, goat/ram, and fishery sections, along with a water production factory.
During the tour, the minister and his entourage visited and inspected the 15-year old Shagari Dam with a 70 percent completion level and the yet to be completed water treatment plant for the drip-irrigation pilot scheme site in Sagi (Agare) town, Sokoto State.
The team also visited the Goronyo Dam, where the inspection covered the control room, arc gate control cabinet, major spillway, gantry crane, mini spillway, and cross regulator, all of which play a crucial role in regulating the major irrigation canal in Goronyo Local Government Area.
The minister also visited and inspected the Bakolori Dam with a reservoir of about 400 million cubic meters of water, along with the SRRBDA Bakolori Irrigation Project, managed by TRIMING in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State.
Furthermore, Goronyo inaugurated the SRRBDA Songhai Model Integrated Farm in Saka Village, Chinaka District of Goronyo Local Government Area. This farm includes sections dedicated to poultry, fishery, goat rearing, and greenhouse seedlings.
He also inaugurated the songhai model integrated farm in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, one of the catchment areas of the SRRBDA. The farm includes sections dedicated to poultry, fishery, goats and rams.
While commending the SRRBDA’s achievements in completing projects, the minister emphasized the crucial need for project sustainability and inclusive involvement of all stakeholders. He added that this approach wiĺl ensure optimal value for the government’s investment in these critical projects and assets.
In company of the minister on the familiarization/inspection tour were the director of river basin operations and inspectorate, Mr AJ Ochigbo; the director of dams and reservoir operations, Engr. Ali Dallah; the MD of SRRBDA and all executive directors, among others
