As reported by New Telegraph, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with the World Bank on irrigation farming initiatives within the State.

The Governor made this known during the Stakeholders Engagement meeting on Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Projects (SPIN), held in Ilorin, the state capital.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Razaq Jida, the Governor highlighted the strategic importance of Kwara North Senatorial District as the State’s food basket, Kwara Central as its economic hub, and Kwara South as a region known for its agricultural prowess. He noted that if the project is implemented in the State, it would significantly enhance food security and improve the living standards of the residents.

In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, praised the project as a significant opportunity to bolster food security and uplift the economic status of the people. He also noted that the State possesses sufficient dams to meet the World Bank's requirements for establishing the project across Kwara.

In his own contribution, the Managing Director, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Dr Adeniyi Aremu, explained that his Agency, through the World Bank, has collaborated with the Kwara State Government on several projects, noting that this one would not be an exception.

Also speaking, the Representative of the World Bank from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abuja, Engr. Bello Garba, highlighted the World Bank’s requirements for the establishment of the project in any part of the country, including availability of existing dam; counterpart funding; 500 hectares of land; proper records of water users association; and study and design, padding that these requirements are strictly adhered to by the World Bank.

The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Christiana Asonibare, assured the participants that the state government would do the needful to ensure that the people of the state benefit tremendously from the project.

After deliberations at the meeting, the team visited Malete, Omu-Aran and Duku Lade Water Dams to carry out on-the-spot assessments of the areas.

The participants expressed satisfaction that the dams have the potential for all year-round irrigation farming, adding that some of the dams already have existing canals, channels, and enough water intakes needed for the project.