Water Resources Ministry To Partner Cross River Govt

By Georgina Humphrey

Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is to partner the Cross River State Government in food security and Open Defecation.

Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, made this known while on a 2- day familiarization tour of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, CRBDA in Calabar, Cross River State.

Goronyo urged 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 stressed government’s determination to ensure the active participation of staff and partners of the Water Resources Sector towards the success of Mr. President’s Food Security Agenda.

He stated that everyone must be proactive, innovative and dedicated to make positive impact in the lives of all Nigerians.

Goronyo therefore urged the Cross River Basin Development Authority, CRBDA, to effectively collaborate with Stakeholders through the expansion of more irrigable lands for food production in the country.

On his part, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu pledged readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government on Food Security adding that he was already working assiduously to end Open Defecation in the State.

The Managing Director, CRBDA, Bassey Edet Nkposong, emphasized that the Songhai Model Integrated Farm commissioned by the Minister of State will serve as a model and reference point to the Local farmers and other Entrepreneurs, on the Zero Waste Concept of a typical Songhai Model Integrated Farm.

He said the CRBDA has put in place strategic plans to synergize with various stakeholders in the River Basin with a view to achieving full utilization of the available lands and Water Resources to construct Dams, Irrigation facilities, Boreholes, Food and Erosion Control in order to meet the social-economic development of its catchment areas.

The climax of the Minister of State’s visit was the commissioning of the CRBDA Songhai Model Integrated Farms which consist of a Poultry, Crops Section, Mushrooms, Fishery and General Animal Husbandry sections as well as a 2 kilometer road network in the Headquarters of the CRBDA.

He also paid a visit to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Oko Abasi Otu.

Edited By Grace Namiji