Tinubu Declares National Emergency On Food Security, Unveils New Irrigation Plans.
President Bola Tinubu has declared a national emergency on food security, calling for the expansion of irrigation infrastructure and participatory water resource management across Nigeria.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage held in Abuja on Monday.
In his address, Tinubu urged African nations to adopt innovative and collaborative strategies to tackle the continent’s pressing irrigation and water management challenges. He described the conference’s theme – *“Tackling Irrigation Development and Water Management Crisis in Africa”* – as a timely call to action for ensuring sustainable agriculture and long-term economic resilience.
“Africa continues to face major challenges in unlocking its irrigation potential due to inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and governance issues,” Tinubu stated. “This conference offers a vital platform for us to collectively chart a path forward.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s potential, Tinubu noted that the country possesses more than 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land, primarily located around major river basins such as the Niger and Benue.
In his remarks, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, outlined recent progress in the sector, particularly under the *Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING)* project. He announced the upcoming launch of its successor, the *Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN)* project, aimed at addressing remaining gaps while increasing the economic value of Nigeria’s water resources to enhance food security.
“With the TRIMING project winding down, Nigeria is poised to begin implementation of the SPIN project in partnership with the World Bank,” Utsev said. “This initiative will consolidate on the successes of TRIMING and expand our irrigation potential.”
According to the minister, the TRIMING project, which spanned more than seven years, achieved significant milestones. These include the completion of the Dadin-Kowa and Bakolori irrigation schemes and the near-completion (90 per cent) of the Middle Rima Valley project. Ongoing efforts are also being supported in Ondo, Kwara, Benue, Kebbi, Edo, Adamawa, and Oyo States.
The project also facilitated the establishment of Water Users Associations, farmer management centres, and supported market linkages for vital agricultural value chains such as rice and tomato.
The government’s renewed focus on irrigation and water resource development is expected to play a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity, reducing food insecurity, and strengthening economic growth across the country.
