President Buhari inaugurates 5700-hectare valley irrigation scheme

By Omolola Pedro

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the 5700-hectare Hadejia valley irrigation scheme in the Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa state, to address Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation, and economic diversification.

The President said the scheme would contribute “in a small way” at reducing poverty, at the inauguration, FarmingFarmersFarms reports.

It should be recalled that in the year 2021, Buhari had set up a National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) steering committee with a vision to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

In a statement by the President’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, the irrigation scheme will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation, and economic diversification.

“It will be a small part of our overall quest to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. I believe it will also significantly contribute to our objectives of economic diversification, food security, and job creation. We hope to see more such private sector-led large agricultural projects, especially with the enabling environment provided by both the state and the Federal Government”, he said noting that the projects inaugurated included the Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, the Malam Alu Integrated Agro-allied Farm in Birnin Kudu, and the dualised Unity-Pentagon-Fanisau road.

Meanwhile, the President had sympathised with residents of the states, who were affected by the flooding in 2022, and promised that his administration would make provisions for more relief packages for the victims.