The Chairman, Board of Directors of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, David Idoko, yesterday revealed concerns of the federal government over delays in the execution of the N 3.2 billion irrigation project of the River Basin in Ilorin.

At the inspection site in Tada-Shonga, in Edu Local government Area of Kwara State,  Idoko noted that the project is part of efforts towards stopping the importation of rice, saying the completion of the project within the specified period would assist in reducing unemployment and youth restiveness.

He said the irrigation system which covered 5, 000 hectares of land four years ago has been improved with 500 more hectares. Idoko also flagged off the dry season plantation on 280 hectares of land and charged farmers to mobilize for quick output, promising continued support of the federal government. He said a summit would be organized to host farmers with a view to giving them opportunity to address problems caused by flooding, shortage of fertilizer and farmers/herders' conflicts.

Earlier, the Secretary of Rice Farmers Association in the area, Mallam Aliyu Kawu, had appealed to the federal government to assist them in cushioning the effects of flooding from the River Niger which has been a major threat to farming.  He disclosed that 2, 250 farmers are ready to work but the annual flooding remains the major challenge. Managing Director of LNRB, Engr. Niyi Afolayan, noted that with the efforts of the authority, the area could feed the entire nation.