The Hourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has announced that the refurbishment and finalization of the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project (MOIP) in Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State, will significantly bolster job creation, poverty alleviation, and food security, while elevating irrigated agriculture.
He added that this is in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The Minister made this declaration during an on-site evaluation of the project in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Wednesday.
Prof. Utsev highlighted the remarkable strides taken by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in the development and restoration of MOIP. He disclosed that the project, originally contracted in 1990, was envisioned to irrigate 12,000 hectares of farmland utilizing diesel pumps and water from the Ikere-Gorge Dam.
He underscored the Ministry’s recent endeavors to hasten the completion of the project and emphasized its capacity to amplify agricultural output, establish employment prospects, and fortify food security in Nigeria. He also conveyed appreciation to the farmers and local stakeholders for their ongoing backing and involvement in Irrigated Agriculture.
Prof. Utsev elucidated that when the irrigation project was initially erected, diesel pumps were utilized, which have subsequently proven to be unsustainable. To tackle this issue, he revealed that the Ministry, through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, has installed a dedicated power line for the project via the National Grid. This power line, extending from Iseyin town to the project site, aims to ensure the project’s longevity and diminish operational expenses for farmers.
He added that the power line is 90% finalized, while the solarization of the Centre Pivot Irrigation Unit is at 85% completion.
Engr. (Mrs) Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, Director of Irrigation and Drainage, represented by Mrs. Florence Oyakhirome, Deputy Director of Irrigation and Drainage, provided a concise overview of the latest advancements on the project.
She unveiled key accomplishments, including the conversion and linkage of pumps to the National Grid, construction of night storage reservoirs, rehabilitation of headworks, and accumulation of essential irrigation equipment respectively.
According to her, these endeavors are aimed at revitalizing the project for efficient and effective utilization by farmers. Additionally, she disclosed that the solarization of the Centre Pivot Irrigation System will render the project more environmentally sustainable, enabling year-round cultivation.
She further pointed out that numerous farmers are already reaping the benefits of the infrastructure, growing crops such as maize, tomatoes, peppers, and sugarcane, and have expressed the need for further access to farmlands and irrigation facilities to expand their enterprises.
To realize the objectives of the MOIP, the Ministry will finalize the refurbishment and expansion of the first phase, encompassing 3,000 hectares of irrigated land.
