Tinubu declares food emergency, pushes irrigation reform

President Bola Tinubu has declared a national emergency on food security, stressing the urgent need to expand irrigation infrastructure and implement inclusive water resource management across Nigeria.

The declaration was made during the opening of the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage in Abuja, where Tinubu was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

Tinubu called on African nations to adopt innovative strategies to address the continent’s ongoing irrigation and water management challenges. He described the conference theme, “Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crisis in Africa,” as a timely and necessary call to action for sustainable agriculture and economic resilience.

He noted that Africa faces significant obstacles in unlocking its irrigation potential due to inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and governance issues.

The president highlighted that Nigeria has over 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land located around major river basins, such as the Niger and Benue rivers, which could be utilized to improve food security and agricultural productivity.

In his remarks, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, provided an overview of the progress made under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria project.

He mentioned completed projects such as the Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori irrigation schemes, and the near-completion of the Middle Rima Valley irrigation project.

Utsev also introduced the successor project, Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria, developed in partnership with the World Bank. The SPIN project aims to build on the successes of TRIMING and address outstanding gaps while optimizing the economic value of water resources to support food security.

The TRIMING project, which has been active for over seven years, also helped establish Water Users Associations, farmer management centres, and supported market linkages for key value chains such as rice and tomato.

River Basin Development Authorities have developed more than 153,000 hectares of irrigable land, with plans to attract private sector investment through partial commercialization.

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Utsev also highlighted the upcoming 2025 Flood Outlook and Risk Management Strategy, which aims to reduce the impact of flooding on agriculture.

Dr. Didi Wilson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, called for a renewed commitment to ensuring national food security, with all levels of government working together to address the issue.

Mr. Godknows Igali, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources, stressed the importance of strategic planning in water governance and the need for sub-national governments to play an active role in food systems management.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State raised concerns about the negative effects of climate change, particularly the shrinking of farming seasons and unpredictable rainfall patterns.

He warned that fertile lands are turning to dust and that irrigation has become a necessity, not a luxury. Zulum called for innovation to be made accessible to all, particularly empowering women and youth who are at the forefront of agriculture.

Dr. Marco Arcieri, President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, described the conference as timely and essential, emphasizing that it could serve as a turning point for Africa in addressing its irrigation and water management challenges.

He expressed his commitment to supporting Africa in overcoming the difficulties posed by population growth and climate stress.

Mr. Ibrahim Musa, head of the African Regional Working Group, expressed optimism that the conference would lead to innovative solutions and actionable outcomes to address Africa’s unique irrigation needs.

The conference will continue in Abuja until April 17, featuring technical sessions, policy dialogues, and field visits to major irrigation sites across Nigeria.

NAN