The Honourable Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., has reiterated the Nigerian Government’s dedication to enhancing Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) in public irrigation schemes as a pivotal measure towards attaining food security and economic advancement.
Addressing the South-South Regional Workshop on the “Establishment and Strengthening of Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) in Public Irrigation Schemes in Nigeria,” in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, the Minister of State underscored the significance of participatory water management in upholding the nation’s irrigation infrastructure.
He emphasized the crucial role irrigation plays in combatting food insecurity, fostering economic progress, alleviating poverty, and empowering youth within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasized that sustainable food production and national food security are unattainable without efficient water management and active engagement of water users, making the establishment and reinforcement of WUAs indispensable.
“The triumph of the World Bank-sponsored Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, particularly in WUA development, underscores the significance of a well-organized institutional framework for irrigation management. Public irrigation schemes under the TRIMING project have witnessed WUAs assuming responsibility for the schemes, safeguarding infrastructure, remitting water service fees, and upholding the systems to augment agricultural productivity,” stated Goronyo.
The Minister of State stressed the imperative to replicate the achievements of TRIMING in other public irrigation schemes nationwide, recognizing that the continuity of these schemes is imperative for realizing the administration’s food security goals.
“This workshop is timely, aligning with the endeavors of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to bolster the broader mission of this administration in ensuring food security and economic advancement. Well-structured WUAs are indispensable for the sustainability of irrigation systems, and consequently, for food production and economic prosperity in Nigeria.”
He lauded the Director of Irrigation and Drainage, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Mrs. Oyeronke Oluniyi for her unwavering commitment to promoting irrigation and for orchestrating the Workshop.
He also extended gratitude to the resource persons, discussants, and participants for their invaluable contributions, urging them to persist in sharing knowledge and collaborating on actionable strategies to fortify WUAs nationwide.
The South-South Regional Workshop offered a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for WUA development and identify optimal practices to ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s irrigation schemes.
Participants from the region, including government officials, water resource managers, and WUA representatives, engaged in extensive discussions to advance effective water resource management and food security.
