…Inspects Kano irrigation project sites
By Dele Ogbodo
The Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr Aishetu Gogo Ndayako has reiterated the commitment of the present Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that no part of this country will be neglected.
Ndayako, stated this during the Stakeholders’ engagement on Kano irrigation projects, which comprised Tiga Dam, Challawa Dam, and Kafin Chiri Dam on Thursday in Kano State.
While emphasizing on the President Bola Tinubu’s Renew Hope Agenda to ameliorate the suffering of the people of Kano State and improve the social economic development within the catchment area and the general population of Nigeria, she further informed that the intervention project will be divided into three areas which include: infrastructure rehabilitation around the three dams, others are Ecological intervention such as roads and bridges; and the utilization of the dams.
In a statement, the Assistant Director Information and Public Relations, Aisha Zarma, quoted the Perm Sec as highlighting the project rehabilitation expectation to include: ensure optimal water storage capacity of the dams; increase crop yield, generate employment and stimulate local economies; and extended dam life span and reduce risks of dam failure to ensure community safety.
During his briefing, the Director Irrigation Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Abdulsalam Yakasau, who represented the Acting Managing Director, Engr Bello Gwarzo, stated that the intervention of the Tiga, Challawa and Kafin Chiri Dams is very apt considering the benefits.
He assured that the authority has the necessary facilities to assist in ensuring the success of the project.
The head of International institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kano state station, Dr. Alpha Kamara, represented by Rabo Ado, Administrative Manager, in his briefing, pledged to provide quality seed of adaptable varieties, engage in community engagement, involve in capacity building of the value chain agent, provide leadership in land and water management, provide soil fertility and soil health management, irrigation management, provide market linkage, provide improvement of the water shield system, building partnership, provide sustainable way in which the farmers work together with input dealers and extension services.
During the guided sites tour of the Tiga, Challawa and Kafin Chiri Dams, the Ecological Project Office engaged the communities in order to identify their challenges and expectations in order to provide sustainable solutions to the area.
The Permanent Secretary, assured the community that the federal government will provide adequate solution to the challenges of irrigational farming in Kano state.
She further charged the community to take ownership of the project, protect it when completed and also provide adequate support to the people that will carry out various job in their communities, promising that the office will ensure full sustainability of the projects.
During the community engagement, the Secretary of Water User Association (WUA) Mallam Mustapha Adamujawa, commended the Permanent Secretary Ecological Project Office and her management team for attracting the project to Dorawar Salau community and Kano State at large. He stressed that rehabilitation, expansion, channelization are the major challenges of the farmers around the catchment area of Tiga Dam.
The woman leader of the community, Saratu Sanusi, appreciated the Federal Government for embarking on this gigantic project, noting that the project would provide more job opportunities for the youth in the community.
Speaking during the community engagement at Challawa Dam, Mr Sagiru Hussein appreciated the effort of the federal government even as he appealed for the project implementation and execution as this will go a long way to help and keep people in the community to produce all the food stuffs.
In his vote of thanks, the Director procurement, at the Office, Dr. Simon Omachoko, appreciated the effort of the President and commended the permanent Secretary for her timely intervention of the project.
