The Lower Niger River Basin Authority (LNRBA) expects its irrigation projects in Kwara and Kogi states to produce over 10,000 tonnes of paddy rice. Mr. George Olumoroti, the Managing Director of the LNRBA, announced this during the 2025 World Rivers Day commemoration in Ilorin on Monday.
The Shonga irrigation scheme in Kwara is projected to yield more than 3,000 tonnes of paddy rice during the upcoming dry season. Additionally, the LNRBA plans to partner with the Kogi State Government to invest in the production of over 7,000 tonnes of rice in a single season. The Girinyan Irrigation Scheme in Kogi is also expected to contribute an additional 2,000 tonnes.
“The Authority was able to provide solar-powered irrigation pumps for more than 200 farmers in Kwara and Kogi States, who are benefitting from solar-powered irrigation pumps,” he said.
According to him, these systems reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower costs, and allow farmers to irrigate more land efficiently during the dry season.
Olumoroti also emphasised the need to protect the rivers as they are directly linked to the well-being of people, the prosperity of farmers, and the sustainability of our environment.
He pointed out that clean rivers provide safe drinking water while warning against dumping waste into rivers and adopt safe sanitation practices.
Olumoroti stated that the Basin Authority has been ensuring clean and sustainable rivers through implementing hydrometeorological monitoring, solar powered pumps and renewable energy integration and community waste magement and pollution control among others.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, for approving the expansion of 12 River Basin Development Authority projects across the nation.
“This demonstrates strong political will to enhance irrigation farming, flood mitigation, and river basin development.
“These interventions are aligned with national programmes such as the Water for Expanded Irrigated Agriculture Programme, the Partnership for Expanded Irrigation Programme, and the broader eight point agenda of the Federal Government,” he said.
In his keynote address, the Executive Chairman, LNRBA (Kogi and Kwara), Alhaji Abdullateef Alakawa, said that the theme was apt and underscores the shared responsibility all have preserving rivers for the prosperity of present and future generations.
“Rivers are more than flowing water. They are lifelines, sustaining agriculture, enabling fisheries, providing potable water, fostering biodiversity, and shaping the cultural and spiritual identities of our communities,” he said.
Alakawa observed that the challenges confronting rivers are grave including pollution from indiscriminate waste disposal, the pressures of urbanization, the scourge of climate change, and weak practices in water resource management.
He warned that these threats, if unchecked, would erode the health of our ecosystems and the health, wealth, and wellbeing of our communities.
“A polluted river brings hunger, disease, and poverty. But a clean river guarantees food security, vibrant health, and economic resilience,” he said.
Alakawa therefore appealed to all stakeholders to safeguard the rivers in the nation, saying rivers are a shared resource, and
therefore their protection must be a shared duty.
“Each time we dispose of waste responsibly, plant a tree, join a clean-up effort, we are building cleaner rivers and healthier communities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Kwara Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afeez Abolore, underscored the importance of rivers to sustainable food production in the country.
He described rivers as a shared assets that needed protection, while reiterating the resolve of the State to collaborate with the Authourity on more efforts for cleaner environment and sustainable food production.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the day was cleaning of waste and planting of trees on the Odo-Fomo River bank.
