World Bank’s $495m Irrigation Funds Will Improve Nigeria’s Economy, Says FG

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has revealed the economic values
of the $495 million credit facility the World Bank gave in support of
the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING).

A
document obtained from the ministry showed that the funds would help in
the ongoing National Irritation Development Programme initiated to aid
diversification of the economy, guarantee food security and
Minister
of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, stated that the project involved
rehabilitation/expansion of about 42,000 hectares of irrigation land
under the first phase, to be completed by 2022.

“The World
Bank is supporting the implementation of the Transforming Irrigation
Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING) with a credit facility of
US$495m. The first phase to be completed by 2022, are as follows:
Bokolori Irrigation Project 13,500Ha, Kano River Irrigation Project
14,200, Hadejia Valley Irrigation Project 6,000 Ha, Dadiwa Kowa
Irrigation Project 3,000Ha and Middle Rima Irrigation Project 5,000 Ha.”

He added that an additional 100,000Ha of irrigated farmland would be established by 2020, another 500,000Ha by 2030.
“We
also plan for additional 1,000,000Ha of irrigable land to be developed
by the private sector and state governments within the same period. Our
recent efforts will enable us to deliver 42,000Ha in 2018 and 41,000Ha
in 2019.”

Adamu noted that the utilisation of the fund would help his ministry in rehabilitating and expanding irrigation projects.
He
stressed that the challenges farmers had to tackle during the dry
season farming period would have been addressed with the creation of
more irrigable lands, adding that the TRIMING project also addresses
rural poverty reduction through progressive management transfer to users
regulated bodies in the form of water user associations (WUAs).

While
enumerating his achievements in office, The minister said that in
pursuant of the roadmap, the National Water Resources Bill which is
still receiving attention in the National Assembly, when passed into law
will provide for effective catchment management, greater participation
of farmers in irrigation management and regulatory framework for private
sector participation in water supply delivery in the country.