The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring adequate water supply to homes, industries and for agriculture as it intensifies investment in irrigation systems.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, who gave the assurance at the 5-day National Workshop of the Nigerian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (NINCID), stressed the need for a paradigm shift away from conventional rain-fed and unregulated practices towards a sustainable and efficient approach to land and water use management.
The workshop had as its theme: “The role of Irrigation and Drainage Practices for Food Security in Nigeria” recently in Kano.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Irrigation and Drainage, in the ministry, Engr Mrs. Oyeronke Oluniyi, added that the transition can be realised through the stimulation, promotion, and development of water and land resources, specifically focusing on irrigation and drainage as well as flood control and river training, in alignment with the core values of the International Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
He noted that the strategy aims to mitigate threats such as land degradation, deforestation, rapid population growth, socio-economic development, and climate change, ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources.
The minister disclosed that the present administration places a high priority on the water sector for socio-economic development, aligning closely with objectives relating to poverty reduction, integrated model farms development, employment generation, and environmental management.
He emphasised that irrigated agriculture, in its diverse forms and scales, stands out as a critical factor in the country’s food security strategies.
