The minister of water resources and sanitation, Joseph Utsev, on Friday inspected the Makurdi irrigation farm project and commissioned the Ugodo community access road.

Mr Utsev, while inspecting the farm at Mbakuv in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue, said the farm has over 3,000 hectares of irrigable land.

He explained that 1,200 out of the 3,000 hectares would be used for irrigation farming, while the remaining 1,800 hectares would be allocated to the upcoming Sustainable Power and Irrigation 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, to facilitate the expansion of the existing irrigation farm, a contract had been awarded for the construction of water channels.

“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 that they are doing very well,” he said.

Mr 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 was also considering generating power at the dam to improve electricity supply in the country.

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

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

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, urged the people to continue supporting the minister to ensure more democratic benefits.

Mr Pheelangwah noted that more projects would be implemented with the people’s support and cooperation with the minister.

Also, HRH Ter Makurdi, Vincent Ahule, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Mr Utsev and George Akume as the secretary to the government of the federation.

Mr Ahule stated that the people of Benue stood behind the president and would support his bid for a second term. 

(NAN)