The Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, has said that the Federal Government will collaborate with the Cross River State Government to improve food production and security.
The minister also urged the Cross River Basin Development Authority to work with stakeholders through the expansion of more irrigable lands to boost food production.
This was made known in a statement on Thursday by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan.
The statement noted that Goronyo stated this while on a 2-day familiarsation tour of the CRBDA from Tuesday 7th – Wednesday 8th November 2023 at the government house in Calabar, the state capital.
The minister, while addressing the need for adequate food production, added that the move was in line with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on food security, I urge the management of CRBDA to continue to collaborate with Stakeholders and expand more irrigable lands to accelerate the actualization of Mr. President’s Agenda to get Nigerians out of hunger and poverty.”
Goronyo emphasised his determination to ensure the active participation of staff and partners of the water resources sector towards the success of Tinubu’s food security agenda, adding that everyone must be proactive, innovative and dedicated to making positive impacts in the lives of all Nigerians.
He disclosed the importance of the performance bonds signed with the President by the ministers and permanent secretaries during the just concluded cabinet retreat in Abuja, which was tailored towards an unrelenting focus on achieving results.
In his speech, the state governor, Bassey Otu, pledged his commitment to collaborate with the FG on food security, while assuring that the state government was already working assiduously to end open defecation in the state.
The Managing Director, CRBDA, Bassey Nkposong, emphasised that the Songhai Model Integrated Farm commissioned by the minister will provide a model and reference point to the local farmers and other entrepreneurs, on the zero waste concept of the farm.
Nkposong disclosed that the CRBDA has put in place strategic plans to synergise with various stakeholders in the River Basin to achieve full utilisation of the available lands and water resources to construct dams, irrigation facilities, boreholes, flood and erosion control to meet the social-economic development of its catchment areas.
The minister declared open the CRBDA Songhai Model Integrated Farms which consist of poultry, crops section, mushrooms, fishery and general animal husbandry sections as well as a 2-kilometre road network in the headquarters of the authority.
The statement noted that Goronyo and his entourage also paid a courtesy visit to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Otu V, to wrap up his state visit.
