Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev on Friday inaugurated the new Governing Boards and Executive Management teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister who performed the inauguration on behalf of President Tinubu at a two-day retreat in Abuja, charged the team to champion food security, accountability, and sustainable water resources management across the country.
The boards of the River Basins are responsiblew for developing both surface and underground water resources through the provision of irrigation infrastructure, control of flooding, and preventing the loss of farmland due to flood, wind, and seawater erosion.
Other functions of the boards include the development of comprehensive water resources master plans, collection of data on water flow, rainfall, and wind, hydro-meteorological data, and management of water quality, including pollution monitoring and evaluation among other critical duties.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Utsev urges the new appointees to utilize the opportunity to assist the government achieve commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s water and agricultural sectors.
“This retreat is a strategic onboarding process to acquaint you with the responsibilities of your new offices in alignment with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Minister said.
He stressed that the relationship between the Boards and Executive Management must be anchored on mutual respect, shared vision, and operational efficiency.
Highlighting the critical role of RBDAs in national development, Utsev underscored the need for the appointees to familiarize themselves with the River Basin Act, the Water Resources Master Plan, and relevant policies to chart a transformative path for the sector.
Professor Utsev also identified food security as a presidential priority that demands urgent expansion of irrigated farming across the RBDAs, encouraging the authorities to stimulate all-season agricultural activities within their jurisdictions.
The Minister outlined key flagship initiatives being implemented through the RBDAs, including, The Partial Commercialization and Revitalization Programme, the Songhai Integrated Farming Model, the Graduate and Youth Empowerment Programme, and the River Basin Strategy for Poverty Alleviation.
On some of the critical roles of RBDAs in national development, Professor Utsev underscored the need for the appointees to familiarize themselves with the River Basin Act, the Water Resources Master Plan, and relevant policies to chart a transformative path for the sector.
He also identified food security as a presidential priority that demands urgent expansion of irrigated farming across the RBDAs, encouraging the authorities to stimulate all-season agricultural activities within their jurisdictions
