FG APPROVES PARTIAL COMMERCIALISATION OF 12 RIVER BASIN DEVPT AUTHORITIES
REPORTER: UGONNA AGU
The Federal Government has approved the partial commercialization of 12 River Basin Development Authority towards making them sustainable and to attract investors.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, stated this at the end of familiarisation tour with the members and management staff of Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority in Owerri.
Professor Utsev announced that the Federal Government would explore means of reviving the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP), which is the single largest rice irrigation project in the south east with huge potentials in food security.
According to the Minister, the ministry will pay greater attention to the expansion of irrigation development and reactivating the moribund ones to tackle food security.
“My Ministry will concentrate on the following key aspect. 1 Implementing water management and irrigation projects to ensure stable and increased food production to feed the nation.
“2. Utilizing water resources and sanitation infrastructure to grow the economy, creates Jobs, alleviate poverty and improve living standards of our people.
“3. Ensuring equitable access to water and sanitation facilities with special attention to the underprivileged,” he stated.
Professor Utsev commended the management and staff of River Basin for their achievement while urging them to upscale the productive activities, especially in the areas of comparative advantages including Palm production and cultivation of tubers.
In an address, the Managing Director Anambra River Basin Development Authority Mr. Gerald Osuagwu thanked the Minister for making out time to visit the facilities and maintained that the river basin was poised to support him to actualize his set goals in office.
“The River Basin is poised and ready to assist the current Minister in achieving the set goals of moving water and sanitation ministry to an enviable height,” the MD said.
Also, the Union Chairman Agric and Allied Union of Nigeria, Comrade Nwabueze Ibeleme, appealed to the Minister, to create more River Basins in South East to meet up with other zones in the country, and look into recruitment and appointment of Directors, arguing that South East was lagging behind.
The Highlights of the visit were palm oil seed planting, inspection of the water factory, oil mill, fish ponds, poultry, grass cutter reproduction room and goats and cattle ranch.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
