The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is to strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration to achieve food security,enhance job creation, economic growth and development of the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, FNSE, announced this today at the High Level Briefing on the Draft Nigeria Strategy and Action Plan for the Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other development partners, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

‎Prof. Utsev who underscored the  importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach  to achieving sustainable agriculture transformation, food security and economic growth,reaffirmed the commitment of his ministry to providing the water resources required to support year-round agriculture in the country.

Highlighting the ongoing efforts  to scale up food production through irrigated agriculture, Prof. Utsev said,his ministry is  developing and expanding the existing dams and reservoirs, expanding irrigation infrastructure and ground water as well as flood and  risk management, ecosystem protection among others.

While aligning with the Kampala Declaration aimed at transforming Africa’s agrifood systems, the Minister advocated a stronger integration of water resources planning into national agricultural investment programmes .

He called for greater investment in climate- smart irrigation, rainwater harvesting, watershed restoration and resilient water infrastructure as well as improved hydrological monitoring, early warning systems and climate information services to support farmer’s decision making.

‎Prof. Utsev who emphasised that water remains the foundation for agriculture development, stressed the need for private sector investment in water infrastructure, noting that, the twelve River Basin Development Authorities across the country and other agencies under his ministry will continue to work closely with the private sector to increase food production and add value to the lives of millions of Nigerians.

‎There were presentations by the Honourable Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari, that of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Livestock Development Alh Idi Muktar among other ministers.