By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reiterated his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the World Bank in the area of irrigation farming in the State.

The Governor stated this at the Stakeholders Engagement meeting on Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Projects (SPIN), in Ilorin, the state capital.

AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Razaq Jida, described Kwara North Senatorial District as the food basket of the State, Kwara Central as the economic hub, while Kwara South is reputed for its agricultural practice, noting that if the project is sited in the State, it would enhance food security and also increase the living standards of the people.

In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, said the project is a laudable one that would boost food security and immensely benefit the people of the State by uplifting their economic status, adding that the
State has enough dams to meet the World Bank requirements for the establishment of the project across the State.

In his own contribution, the Managing Director, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Dr. Adeniyi Aremu, explained that his Agency, through the World Bank, has collaborated with the Kwara State Government on several projects, noting that this one would not be an exception.

Also speaking, the Representative of the World Bank from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abuja, Engr. Bello Garba, highlighted the World Bank’s requirements for the establishment of the project in any part of the country, including availability of existing dam; counterpart funding; 500 hectares of land; proper records of water users association; and study and design, padding that these requirements are strictly adhered to by the World Bank.

The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Christiana Asonibare, assured the participants that the state government would do the needful to ensure that the people of the state benefit tremendously from the project.

After deliberations at the meeting, the team visited Malete, Omu-Aran and Duku Lade Water Dams to carry out on-the-spot assessments of the areas.

The participants expressed satisfaction that the dams have the potential for all year-round irrigation farming, adding that some of the dams already have existing canals, channels, and enough water intakes needed for the project.