FG inaugurates Sokoto-Rima Youth Empowerment Scheme
NAN-AE-9
Inauguration
By Tosin Kolade
Talata Mafara (Zamfara) Mr Suleiman Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources on Tuesday inaugurated the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Graduate and Youth Empowerment Scheme in Talata Mafara, Zamfara.
He said that the scheme was in line with the Federal Government’s policy of boosting food production and creating employment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scheme aims at promoting all-year farming and aquaculture through the use of water and land provided by the river basin authorities.
He said that the scheme would be executed by all the 12 river basin authorities.
Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Rabi Jimeta, said government was committed to improve the livelihood of Nigerians.
According to him, the scheme is part of the short and long term strategies of the Blueprint and action plans to meet the food security challenges and reduce youth unemployment in the country.
Adamu said that agriculture provided the largest opportunity to create jobs for the teeming youths, adding that with functional river basins, the goal would be achieved.
“The event we are witnessing today is yet another milestone to revitalise our river basin development authorities, which were established to boost agricultural production, all year round farming and achieve integrated rural development.
” The Buhari administration is committed to complete overhaul of the structure of our economy, which has largely been dependent on crude oil for decades.”
The minister said that the scheme would be replicated in the 109 senatorial zones.
Alhaji Mukthar Anka, Managing Director of the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Authority, commended the Federal Government for its efforts aimed at strengthening river basins across the country.
Anka said the basin contributed in surface and underground water management for Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
He said that project managers have been mandated to begin dry season farming early to forestall unnecessary delays that may come up.
“When the basin functions properly, it has the capacity to produce rice that would feed the nation,” he said.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Songhai Farms Limited in Porto Novo to reposition the river basins across the country.
Part of the provision is the introduction of the Graduate and Youth Empowerment Scheme to boost food security.
The scheme had been inaugurated in Kampe-Omi Dam in Lower Niger River Basin and Abeokuta in the Ogun-Osun River Basin authorities. (NAN)
TAK/ADA/OU
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Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Obike Ukoh
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