By Fatima Saka
Abuja, Nigeria – The Chairmen and Management teams of Nigeria’s twelve River Basin Development Authorities have pledged their unified commitment to driving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda, following the conclusion of a two-day strategic retreat held in Abuja on May 2 and 3, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the Joint Appointees Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Malam, MFR, Managing Director/CEO of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, reiterated the resolve of the agencies to expand arable land, boost agribusiness, and foster youth and women engagement in agriculture in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the recent presidential declaration of a state of emergency on food security.
“The retreat provided a valuable platform to deepen our understanding of our core responsibilities, especially at this critical time,” said the forum. “We are united in our commitment to actualising this national vision by supporting sustainable irrigation, creating agribusiness opportunities, and enhancing food availability on Nigerian tables.”
According to the statement, Chairman of the Chairmen of the River Basin Authorities, Dr. Amos Yusuf, also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and intergovernmental collaboration, especially with state governments, to ensure alignment of local initiatives with national goals.
The forum emphasized on honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev, had earlier charged the basin authorities to open more land for cultivation, encourage private investments, and modernize irrigation practices to meet the administration’s targets.
However, the forum acknowledged existing obstacles including obsolete infrastructure, climate-related threats like flooding and erosion, and regional insecurity. “Despite these challenges, we are determined to think innovatively and adopt modern irrigation technologies to change the narrative,” the statement noted.
“In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Climate Action, the authorities also committed to improving value chain activities, minimising post-harvest losses, and increasing market access for farmers.”
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The forum called on stakeholders, development partners, and private sector players to embrace the opportunities presented by the ongoing partial commercialisation of the river basin system, assuring them of an open-door policy across all zones.
As the retreat ends, the River Basin Development Authorities expressed optimism that their renewed understanding would translate into bold actions and measurable outcomes. “We assure you that the next time we address the press, our collective efforts would have translated into increased food abundance and reduced cost of food items across the nation,” the forum highlighted.
