Chairman Governing Boards and Executive Management Teams of Nigeria’s 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), Alhaji Abubakar Mallam, has charged the management of the river basins to tackle the nation’s food requirements in line with the presidential declaration of state of emergency on food security.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had over the weekend inaugurated the governing boards and executive management teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) as part of efforts to combat food insecurity and drive rural development.
The inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja, was presided over by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, who described the appointments as a significant step in advancing the government’s strategy to promote irrigated agriculture and improve water resource management.
Speaking with newsmen after a two-day retreat organised by the ministry, Abubakar Mallam noted that the move aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President aimed at ensuring food sustainability and inclusive development across the country.
“With this inauguration, we are unlocking the potential of the River Basin Authorities to become engines of food production, job creation, and poverty alleviation.
“The President’s approval of partial commercialisation for the RBDAs is a strategic step to attract private sector investment and improve operational efficiency,” he said.
He urged the Boards and Executive Management to foster synergy, embrace innovation, and uphold integrity in public service, warning that performance will be closely monitored and underperforming agencies would be held accountable.
Abubakar assured President Tinubu that “all the 12 RBDAs are committed to actualising the national agenda, which entails expanding arable land, increasing food availability on the table and creating more agribusiness opportunities for youth and women groups across the country.”