FG to commercialise dams for enhanced food production

The federal government is set to partially commercialise the dams under the twelve river basins in the country as a way of generating revenue.

Joseph Utsev, the minister of water resources and sanitation, said this on Wednesday after the inspection of Tiga dam in Bebeji LGA of Kano state.

Utsev said there is huge infrastructure available at the basins, adding that the commercialisation would guarantee a return on investments for the federal government.

The minister said the government will partner farmers “to tap water from the dam” and enhance food production in the country.

He said the aim of the visit to Tiga dam was to assess its state as well as address any challenges.

Utsev said the dam will be reconstructed mainly for the purpose of flood control, irrigation, and energy generation, adding that the government would ensure its effective operation and management.

“The basins have huge infrastructure like water supply schemes, dams and irrigation that require good funding to be able to keep them running and to provide dividends for Nigerians,” he said.

“The federal government is ever ready to partner with commercial farmers to pave the way for massive production of assorted food crops in an all-year farming system.

“We are ready to partner with commercial farmers, they come and register with us, and we will allow them to tap water from the dam for commercial farming which will help immensely in enhancing food production.

“Farmers are tapping water illegally from the canals and this will have a negative impact, hence we are working towards calling the attention of the farmers so that they will register with the government and the water would be supplied to them.

“We will also update our database for effective service delivery.”

Also speaking, Dau Aliyu, managing director of the Hadejia Jamma’are river basin, said the commercialisation of the dam will contribute to economic development.

Aliyu said more than three million farmers were benefiting from the dam while hundreds of others were siphoning the water illegally.

He added that the basin had commenced the mobilisation to register all those operating illegally.