A three thousand ( 3000) hectre irrigation programme will soon commence in Gombe State under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project, TRIMMING.
The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Sulaiman Adamu disclosed this while receiving Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state who visited the ministry in Abuja.
TRIMMING is a Federal Government/ World Bank programme aimed at improving access to irrigation and drainage services and to strengthen institutional arrangements for integrated water resources management and agricultural service delivery in selected large-scale public schemes.
The minister who appreciated Governor Inuwa for the visit and his political will to attract development to Gombe state, informed his guest that "the 3,000 hectre irrigation expansion project in Dadinkowa will start in earnest within the next six months baring bureaucratic process, while work to revive the Cham dam will continue immediately after this rainy season".
He said the expansion of the irrigation scheme in Dadinkowa will create more jobs, generate wealth and enhance food production.
The Minister who gave a broad overview of the activities and opportunities in his ministry, lauded Gombe state's desire to key into the various initiatives.
He enjoined Gombe state Government to key into the national campaign to end open defecation which will be launched in November by President Muhammadu Buhari and the national action plan to access the PEWASH fund as well as other projects in the ministry.
He noted the benefits of investing in sanitation are enormous, ranging from revenue generation, job creation, health and agriculture.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya on his part, assured the minister of his administration's resolve to key into programmes and projects of the ministry that have direct bearing on the common man, including the water, sanitation and irrigation schemes.
He particularly vowed to scale up investment in water and sanitation as well as boost access and supply of water to rural communities.
He said his visit to the ministry was aimed at seeking areas of collaboration on how to better the lots of the citizenry.
Governor Yahaya said Gombe has some challenges of influx of people from the neighbouring states as a result of insurgency with its attendant impact on its resources and facilities.
He however said with collaboration and support of relevant agencies and organisations as well as commensurate investment, the situation and statistics can be improved.
Governor Yahaya declared his support for the Ministry's campaign to end open defecation and expressed readiness to take necessary measures to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in that direction.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari and other aides.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Senior Special Assistant
( Media and Publicity)
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