The Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., has expressed the Federal Government’s commitment and readiness to collaborate with the Sokoto State Government through the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) to bolster food production nationwide.
Goronyo made this known during his courtesy visit to His Excellency, Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State, as part of his 4-day familiarization tour of the SRRBDA, on Friday December 30, 2023, in Sokoto.
The Honourable Minister of State while outlining key ministry’s projects like PEWASH, SURWASH and ODF, during discussions for potential collaboration, underscored the substantial role of SRRBDA as a ‘bridge builder’ for enhancing food production, both in Sokoto State and across Nigeria.He highlighted that, aligning with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda and the Food Security mandate of the President, his Ministry has actively contributed to providing clean drinking water to citizens, constructing dams for irrigation across the twelve River Basins nationwide, and ensuring sanitation by building toilet facilities in schools, motor parks, hospitals, and various public places.
The Minister of State urged the Governor to allocate adequate lands and release title documents to the SRRBDA for ownership in order to end the surge of encroachment into SRRBDA lands by farmers in the State.
Responding, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency, Ahmad Aliyu, Ph. D, reaffirmed his government’s unwavering readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to ensure the success of the Food Security Agenda of the present Administration.
He directed the Commissioners of Environment and Lands to allocate irrigable lands to SRRBDA and urged the MD of SRRBDA, Engr. Buhari Bature Muhammed to officially notify his office to promptly address encroachment concerns.
The courtesy visit also extended to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sir Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubarkar III, where discussions on Water Resources projects and initiatives took place.
The Minister’s entourage included Mr. John Ochigbo, Director, River Basin Operations and Inspectorate, Engr. Ali Dallah, Director, Dams and Reservoir Operations, and other Senior Staff from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
The MD, SRRBDA,Engr. Buhari Bature Muhammed and Sokoto State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alh. Yusuf Machido, were also part of the distinguished delegation.
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