The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Mr. Khalil Halilu, has disclosed that the Federal Government’s ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project’ was initiated to increase Nigerian farmers’ yields and incomes.
Halilu, who made this remark at the weekend during the formal launch of the initiative in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, pointed out that improved irrigation “helps farmers to extend the number of farming rounds made possible in a year for each farming household. And this means a rise in income for farmers as farming activities increased all through the dry season”.
The NASENI boss said the primary goal of project under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration essentially includes the transformation of entire Nigeria’s agriculture sector through provision of sustainable irrigation systems that empower farmers to achieve year-round farming, and by extension increased productivity and reduced food prices.
According to him, the project is jointly being implemented by NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) and the organized private sector (OPS) and its operations will fully empower and enable the farmers and the OPS to develop the Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Halilu explained that beginning with the pilot phase, the operations of the Irrigate Nigeria Project commenced a 10-hectare land in Gamawa Local Government of Bauchi State under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) built on a large scale farming basis for the purpose of sustainability and more production.
He clarified: “This Federal Government initiative rests on four components for its sustainability which include: first the deployment of centralized NASENI irrigation systems to support farming clusters in the participating communities.
“Second is the provision of input-enhanced seeds and fertilizers including technical support to the participating farmers to complement the provision of irrigation equipment, third is the specialized nature of the commercial model, aimed at ensuring commercial viability and long-term sustainability, and lastly Irrigate Nigeria Project will be run on commercial basis, but with every care taken to ensure that this does not burden the participating farmers unnecessarily”
“The repayments by farmers for the support being provided will be in the form of convenient portions of their harvests, like rice paddy. These repayments will be pooled into a strategic food reserve that will help to stabilize commodity prices and also made available for institutional sale for export, and finally it has the objective of ensuring that Nigeria’s farmers are able to farm throughout the year regardless of the availability of rains while increasing the quantity and quality of harvests”, Halilu added.
Speaking at the event, Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, thanked the Federal Government for choosing Gamawa Local Government Area, as the first state to benefit from ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project’ initiative.
He said “What the Federal Government is doing today in Gamawa is the fulfillment of the essence of governance, that is to create an enabling environment, and it is a plus for President Tinubu or the Federal government. This project is more than just about farming; it is about food security, economic empowerment, and national stability. It aligns perfectly with Bauchi State Government’s broader goals of expanding irrigation farming, reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture, and promoting sustainable agricultural infrastructure.
“The Irrigate Nigeria Project, if implemented as designed, will have a multiplier effect across the agricultural value chain, both vertically and horizontally. It will drive knowledge transfer, introduce advanced technologies, and distribute wealth equitably ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of our society benefit from this transformation. This is the kind of structured agricultural intervention which Nigeria needs, one that prioritizes inclusivity, accountability, and long-term economic impact”, the governor stressed.
Photo Caption
L-R: Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammad; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu; Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Adamu and the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Abdul Malik Bungudu; during the launch of the ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project’at the weekend in Gamawa local Government, Bauchi State,
