Leadership (Abuja)
16 May 2008
President Umaru Musa 'Yar'Adua has directed the immediate commencement of the execution of the first phase of multi-billion naira Zauro Polder Irrigation Project in Kebbi State, as part of long term solution to the current global food crisis in the country.
The project estimated at N18.5 billion, covering over 10,000 hectares along the rivers Rima and Niger in the state is to be jointly financed by the Federal Government, Kebbi State and the 10 affected local government areas of the state with the Federal Government to provide 70% while the state and local governments to pay the balance of 30%.
The Minister of State for Water Resources, Mr. Ademola Rasak Seriki disclosed the president's directives at a meeting between officials of his ministry, Kebbi State government officials, consultants and contractors of the project at the ministry headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday.
The minister said President Yar'Adua has observed with dismay that the project conceived since 1969 with the aim of boosting rice production in the country has been delayed unnecessarily despite its socio-economic importance to the country.
Seriki further said, the president was disturbed that a project of such magnitude with unquantifiable benefits to the nation's economic growth could suffer such a set back. He regretted that, if Zauro Polder and similar projects in the country have not been delayed, the present global food crisis would have little effect on Nigeria.
He declared that, the Federal Government is now fully prepared to fulfill all its obligations in respect of the project with a view to ensuring its immediate execution, stressing that budgetary provisions have been made in this year's budget for the project.
According to him, when completed, Zauro Polder Irrigation Project has the potential of providing sufficient rice for both local consumption and exports adding that, the Federal Government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the project is executed. He therefore declared that, the meeting must conclude all formalities and modalities for the immediate commencement of the project.
Earlier in his address, Governor Sa'idu Dakingari said he was at the ministry with a high powered delegation from the state to discuss the modalities of the project and finalise preparations for its execution.
He said since the Memorandum of Understanding on the project was signed between the federal and state governments and the contract signed between the Federal Government and CGC, the construction firm, in October 2006, not much has been done.
Governor Dakingari stated that, in fulfillment of its obligations of providing 30% of the total cost, Kebbi State Government has paid N1 billion to the contractor and equally made available another N1.0 billion for additional payments. He stressed the need for finalizing all necessary modalities for the commencement of the execution of the project for the benefits of the country.
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