Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev visited the Makurdi irrigation farm project on Friday and opened the access road to Ugodo village.

While viewing the farm at Mbakuv in Benue’s Makurdi Local Government Area, Utsev stated that it has more than 3,000 hectares of irrigable land.

He said 1,200 of the 3,000 hectares would be used for irrigated farming, with the remaining 1,800 hectares dedicated to the future Sustainable Power and Irrigated for Nigeria (SPIN) project. 

He stated that while 400 hectares had already been cleared and were in use; a contract had been awarded for the study and design of the remaining 600 hectares, which was at an advanced stage.

The minister also noted that a contract for the construction of water channels had been awarded to facilitate the expansion of the existing irrigation farm.

“We have given a contract for the construction of irrigation channels, and we also gave a contract for drip irrigation and for the study and design for the expansion of the existing irrigation farm.

“The contractor handling the construction of the channels is doing very well because the construction of the channel is almost 90 per cent completed, while the drip irrigation is about 67 per cent completed.

“We have garden eggs, maize and pepper cultivated, and you can see they are doing very well,” he said.

Utsev also disclosed that the Otukpo Multipurpose Dam, which is 50 per cent complete, had been included in the 2025 budget and would be completed.

He added that the ministry also considered generating power at the dam to improve the country’s electricity supply.

At commissioning the 1.5-kilometre Ugodo Community access road, Utsev said the road would enable the community to transport its agricultural produce to the town.

He stated that the road would also enhance the overall socio-economic well-being of the community.

Mr Richard Pheelangwah, the ministry’s permanent secretary, had earlier called on the populace to support the minister and guarantee more significant democratic advantages.

Pheelangwah stated that other initiatives would be carried out with the public’s assistance and the Minister’s collaboration.

HRH Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Ahule also praised President Bola Tinubu for selecting Sen. George Akume and Utsev as the Federation’s Secretary to the Government.

According to Ahule, the Benue people support the president and will back his ambition for a second term.  

Source: NAN

Image Credit: The Guardian