FG COMMISSIONS NUMEROUS COMPLETED PROJECTS IN LOWER BENUE RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE, FAeng on behalf of the Federal Government has again commissioned numerous life changing projects in Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi, and capital city of Benue State.
These projects include fully completed Rice Mill with approximate capacity to produce 16 tonnes of Rice per day (2 tones per hour) and Songhai Integrated Model Farm having different sections including fishery, animals, poultry, vegetables and fruits located at Makurdi, the Headquarters of the Authority.
While commissioning the Songhai Integrated Model Farm, Engr. Suleiman Adamu informed that the essence is to ensure food sufficiency in the near future in order to cater for the now over bloated population of Nigeria.
He reiterated that each River Basin Development Authority must continue to be an enabler for food security and socio-economic development.
Alongside the Commissioning of the two gigantic projects, the Honourable Minister performed the foundation laying ceremony for the new Office Complex Extension which is expected to house about 100 Staff of the Authority when completed.
Adamu took a facility tour of the different sections of the newly constructed Rice Mill – Raw materials, Polishing, Parboiled and finished Product as well as the Songhai Integrated Model Farm. He equally used the occasion to inspect the ongoing construction of a Feed Mill also located at the Headquarters of the Authority.
While addressing the staff of the Authority, the Honourable Minister urged all to ensure harmonious good working environment in order to get the best out all employees. He urged the Staff to always add value to their work and advised Management and Staff to work in harmony as well as embrace team work in the work place towards ensuring greater profitability.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director, Engr. Mohammed O. Andra, FNSE, AmbP said that the numerous and laudable achievements of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority was a direct off-shoot of the developed Water Resources Roadmap by the Honourable Minister which contains laudable policy initiatives that had strengthened the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) as enablers for food security and socio-economic development.
Engr. Andra identified the clearing of over two thousand hectres of farmland across the four catchment States of Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi (East of the River Niger);
– the newly commissioned Rice Mill;
-the establishment of two Songhai Integrated Model Scheme located at Doma, Nasarawa State which are working in optimum capacity;
-the acquisition of 8N0s Green House Units sizes with three installed at the Headquarters of the RBDAs in Makurdi, capital city of Benue State, two at Oforachi Project in Kogi State, two at Keffi Project in Nasarawa State and 1N0 at Doma Project also in Nasarawa State with massive production of assorted vegetables growing in them including bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumber;
-the Doma small hydro-power installation project which has resumed work after a little setback by the effect of COVID-19. This project according to Engr. Adra has received full assurance from UNIDO to supply very important Electro-mechanical equipments by March 2023. This is with the expectation that this project will be completed before the end of the year. Another milestone is the completion of about two thousand motorized boreholes with overheard tanks and numerous hand pumps across the Authority’s catchment area among others as some of the laudable achievements of the RBDAs under the tenure of the Honourable Minister.
The occasion was witnessed by some eminent personalities and Senior Government Officials including members of Staff of the Authority.
Kenechukwu Offie, fnipr
Director, Press and Public Relations.
14/03/2023.
