400 hectares of the farm have already been cleared and is in use, while contracts have been awarded for the study and design of an additional 600 hectares
By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, Friday, inspected the Makurdi irrigation farm project and commissioned the 1.5-kilometer Ugondo community access road.
Speaking during the inspection, Utsev revealed that the farm has over 3,000 hectares of irrigable land, with 1,200 hectares allocated for irrigation farming and 1,800 hectares reserved for the upcoming Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria, SPIN, project.
Utsev noted that 400 hectares of the farm have already been cleared and is in use, while contracts have been awarded for the study and design of an additional 600 hectares.
The minister also announced that contracts have been awarded for the construction of water channels and drip irrigation systems to support the expansion of the existing irrigation farm.
He also expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, stating that the contractors handling the construction of the channels are doing well, with the project nearing 90 percent completion, highlighting the successful cultivation of crops such as garden eggs, maize, and pepper.
In addition to the irrigation farm project, Utsev disclosed that the Otukpo Multipurpose Dam, which is currently at 50 percent completion has been included in the 2025 budget and would be completed, adding that the ministry is also exploring the possibility of generating power at the dam to improve electricity supply in the country.
At the commissioning of the Ugondo community access road, Utsev emphasized the importance of the road in enabling the community to convey their agricultural produce to the town, while also improving the socio-economic living conditions of the community.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, urged the community to continue supporting the minister to ensure more development projects in the area.
On his part the Ter Makurdi, HRH Vincent Aule, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Sen. George Akume as the SGF and Utsev as a minister, expressing the Benue people’s support for the President’s second term ambition.