The federal government has pledged its commitment to rehabilitate the Kano River irrigation project in the North-West geopolitical zone for improved food production.

Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Aishetu Ndayako said this was part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Thursday in Abuja when she received a delegation from Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.

Ms Ndayako described the delivery of the 22 projects earmarked to be executed in Tiga, Callaway and Kafin Chiri Dams as deserving urgent attention.

She emphasised that dams have the potential to impact the security of livelihoods through job creation and food security.

Ms Ndayako identified key objectives of the meeting to include discussion of the rehabilitation of the Kano irrigation system and identifying the infrastructural needs of the catchment areas in the state.

Others, according to her, are to determine factors for long-term success as well as the development of stakeholder coordination and engagement strategies.

“This is the first time EPO has been called upon to intervene in this regard and it cannot fail. The intervention will be replicated in the six geopolitical zones, beginning with the North-West, which is expected to be delivered by the first quarter of next year as the pilot scheme. While providing water for irrigation and animals, the people should also be taken into consideration by providing treated water for domestic use,” she said.

Earlier, acting Managing Director, Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Bello Gwarzo, assured the permanent secretary of the agency’s unalloyed support in delivering the projects on time and according to specifications. 

(NAN)