The Ogun State Government has shown interest in collaborating with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) on sustainable energy, irrigation, and other agricultural initiatives.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Angel Adelaja-Kuye, during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and CEO of O-ORBDA, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, as stated in a release on Sunday.
Dr. Adelaja-Kuye highlighted the government’s commitment to advancing its ISEYA Agenda, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, through strategic partnerships with O-ORBDA to achieve shared goals in food production. She also noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria offers numerous opportunities to enhance food security across the nation.
“We believe that a partnership with O-ORBDA could greatly enhance our efforts to improve food security,” Dr. Adelaja-Kuye stated.
She explained that the visit to O-ORBDA was specifically to explore opportunities within the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria project, while leveraging the agency’s extensive expertise in the field.
In response, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru welcomed Dr. Adelaja-Kuye and expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Government for its interest in advancing irrigation initiatives.
Dr. Ashiru explained that the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) project comprises two key components: irrigation and hydropower. He noted that the Mokoloki farm project has been earmarked for implementation under the initiative.
He encouraged the Ogun State Government to either align with the Mokoloki project or propose new land for irrigation development. He added that the latter option would require conducting a fresh study, designing a new irrigation system, and constructing the facilities recommended in the design.
“Currently, we have about 4,000 hectares of land available, although much of the previously acquired land has been encroached upon by local communities,” Ashiru said.
He emphasized that the SPIN project aims to tackle challenges in water resource management, water security, and energy security in Nigeria through strategic investments in irrigation systems, dams, storage infrastructure, and hydropower facilities.
The project seeks to promote sustainable development by mobilizing water for productive purposes, optimizing the use of existing storage facilities, and enhancing hydropower generation capacity. It also aims to improve the efficient utilization of water resources and strengthen practices for integrated water resource management.
