FG inaugurates Ogun-Osun River Basin Youth Empowerment scheme
NAN-AE-3
Scheme
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated the Ogun-Osun River Basin Youth Empowerment Scheme in Alabata, Abeokuta.
The scheme is part of the Graduate and Youth Empowerment Programme of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, targeted at repositioning the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in the country.
The Director, River Basin Operations with the Ministry, Dr Musa Ibrahim, said the programme was being implemented nationwide in the 12 RBDAs and in the 109 senatorial districts.
According to him, the scheme is part of the short and long term strategies of the Blueprint and action plans to strengthen the RBDAs to meet the food security challenges and reduce youth unemployment in the country.
“RBDAs remain the most strategically placed Federal Government agencies to facilitate food security and support employment opportunities,” he said.
Ibrahim said the inauguration of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Empowerment scheme was being identified for agricultural activities and employment generation within the next 18 to 24 months.
“We are re-equipping the RBDAs with basic plant and machinery, we are also developing agricultural service centres, farm settlements in the Songhai model.’’
The director added that the ministry needs N64 billion to complete abandoned projects towards facilitating national food security and in maintaining the integrity of freshwater ecosystems of the nation.
Inspecting the Oyan dam, Ibrahim expressed commitment to address the infrastructural deficits in the area, towards promoting food sufficiency.
“The scheme will enhance the ability of the RBDAs to package their water services with the provision of complementary basic rural infrastructure, which would improve agriculture and food security,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government in June 2016 signed an agreement with the Songhai Nigeria Farms on Graduate Employment Scheme/Farm Settlement Schemes.
NAN reports that this laudable initiative, sequel to the Kampe/Omi dam in Kogi in July 2016, will without doubt support the vision and objectives of the present administration’s drive for food security and job creation. (NAN)
TAK/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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