The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to invest in the irrigation sub-sector to achieve sufficient food security.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this on Thursday in Enugu during the South East Regional Workshop on Establishment/Strengthening of Water Users Association for Management of Public Irrigation Schemes.
Adamu also said that the irrigation sub-sector was one of the key policy thrusts to help the Federal Government to lift 100million Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.
He said the Federal Government had resolved to massively invest in the sector to achieve food and water sufficiency by moving from drought-prone, rain-fed agriculture to irrigated agriculture for self-sufficiency.
“This is the first in the series of workshops planned to establish or strengthen water users of public irrigation schemes for effective and efficient management of the schemes”. “The current administration is committed increasing food production through irrigated agriculture and ensuring greater efficiency and equity in the distribution and use of these resources for the well being of Nigerians: he said.
Adamu said that the Water Bill was being presented to the National Assembly (NASS) to address various issues in the water sector. “We are aware that it has been misunderstood. However, it is clear that the bill is not with any negative intention but to promote sustainable integrated water resources management nationwide,” Adamu said.
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(NAN)