The federal government has commissioned a 3.5 million cubic water capacity dam that will power at least 150, 000 hectares of irrigation farm land in Omu- Aran, Irepodun local government area of kwara state in its pilot irrigation programme for kwara South senatorial district.

The federal government had through the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin commissioned similar dam in Malete, Okuta Baruten local government for similar irrigation project in Kwara North senatorial district.

Speaking at the commissioning in Omu- Aran on Monday, Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Sulyman Adamu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Didi Walson- Jackson, encouraged the people of Omu- Aran to take advantage of the potentials of the dam to boost food security and create jobs for themselves.

Managing Director, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Dr Adeniyi Saheed Aremu, said the dam has potentials of serving the irrigation and portable water needs of the community.

Contractor of the project, Engineer Kayode Shangoyemi, urged the state and federal government to collaborate and provide alternative source of energy to reduce the cost of diesel currently being used to power the dam.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mallam Abdulateef Gidado, said his administration had empowered 6,000 farmers under the FADAMA NG-CARES which has been planned to boost food security and deliver prosperity along agricultural value chains to thousands poor homes.

The Olomu of Omu- Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, urged the federal government to carry out reticulation of the dam to serve the portable water needs of the communities.