The Cross River House of Assembly on Monday passed the state Irrigation and Dams Authority Bill 2025 into law to improve food security.

The bill aimed at conceptualising, designing, procuring, managing and regulating irrigation, dams and reservoirs would also ensure the optimal performance and efficient use of water resources.

The passage of the bill followed a report on deliberations of the House’s Joint Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources/Forestry and Water Resources/Sanitation, earlier mandated to carry out an in-depth study of the bill after its second reading.

A public hearing was held at the assembly’s complex in Calabar, where stakeholders, including Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, expressed support for the bill.

Presenting the report, the chairman of the joint committee, Bette Obi,  explained that the state stands to benefit greatly from the bill.

“Aside from maximising food production through mechanised farming, it will boost food security, create jobs and foster research into addressing the multifaceted challenges of farm management and practice,” Mr Obi said.

Mr Obi, who represents the Boki 1 State Constituency, expressed optimism that the bill when passed into law, would reshape the state’s ideology and build capacity for increased food production.

He said the bill had set the tempo for a new perspective on agricultural production in Cross River, adding that in a few years, the state would showcase itself as a model of food production.

While making their contributions to the bill, the lawmakers unanimously supported its passage, noting that it was timely and important to the state.

In his remarks, Elvert Ayambem, speaker of the House, commended the committee for working hard to complete the legislative procedures necessary to pass the bill.

Ayambem restated his confidence that Gov. Bassey Otu would continue to assent to bills passed by the assembly to ensure dividends of democracy in the state.

The bill, comprising 17 sections and one schedule, was sponsored by Odey Wonah, the Yala 1 State Constituency member.

(NAN)