KANO—THE chairman of the senate committee on water resources, Senator Tunde Ogbeha says that adequate budgetary allocation will be made in 2005 for the development of 7,000 hectares of farmland under the Kano River irrigation project phase I. Speaking during a visit to the site in Kano, the chairman of the Senate committee on water resources expressed appreciation at the level of work done so far and reiterated the commitment of his committee to ensure that adequate budgetary allocation is provided for the completion of all on going viable water projects in the country.
Conducting the senators round the completed 15,000 hectares under the Kano river irrigation project Phase I, the managing director of the Hadejia Jama’re River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Alhaji Shehu D. Abdulkadir told the committee that out of N800 million appropriated for the project this year, N600 million have so far been released to the contractor.
Briefing the senators at the site of Hadejia valley irrigation project in Jigawa State, the managing Director of Hadejia Jama’re River Basin development Authority Alhaji Shehu D. Abdulkadir explained that additional 1,000 hectares have been developed out of the 5,000 hectares under the present contract and would be put under irrigation during the next dry season farming.
Earlier during a courtesy visit to Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, he commended the federal Government for the commitment of completing the remaining 7,000 hectares to be developed under the Kano River irrigation project as well as the recent donation of 880 hand pump units to the state government, saying it is an indication of federal government commitment toward improving the agricultural sector.
Governor Shekarau then appealed to the federal government to treat as priority any issue that affects agricultural development, adding that the state has large irrigable land that can be used to boost agricultural output of the entire nation, if funds are released to boost the land.
Also receiving members of the senate committee in his palace, the Emir of Kano Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero described the Federal Government’s determination to complete the development of the remaining 7,000 hectares to be put under irrigation in the Kano River irrigation project phase I, as welcoming.
The Emir then appealed to the committee not to relent in their effort in pressing for the release of funds for the project, saying that many people will benefit from the project in terms of employment opportunities which will be created after the completing of the projects.
