FG Inaugurates River Basin Board To Drive All-Season Agriculture

The Federal Government has inaugurated the newly appointed Governing Boards and Executive Management teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), charging them to champion food security, accountability, and sustainable water resources management across the country.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, gave the charge during a two-day inauguration and retreat ceremony held in Abuja.
In his keynote address, Utsev congratulated the appointees on their selection by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the appointments as a testament to the administration’s commitment to revitalising 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 familiarise 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.

The minister outlined key flagship initiatives being implemented through the RBDAs. These include the Partial Commercialisation and Revitalisation Programme; the Songhai Integrated Farming Model; Graduate and Youth Empowerment Programme; and the River Basin Strategy for Poverty Alleviation.

“These initiatives are geared toward job creation, food production, and socio-economic upliftment. I expect you to aggressively pursue their implementation and explore new ideas for progress,” Utsev noted.

He also listed critical areas for immediate focus such as adherence to financial regulations, implementation of performance management systems, integrated river basin management, farmland acquisition, and strengthening collaboration with state governments.

“As strategic institutions, the RBDAs must drive water resources development and contribute meaningfully to national growth,” Utsev declared. On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, charged the participants to embrace visionary leadership in advancing the water, agriculture, and rural development sectors.

Pheelangwah emphasised that the retreat was not just an orientation exercise but a deliberate effort to foster synergy, improve governance, and deepen the participants’ understanding of their mandates in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He outlined key thematic areas for discussion, including integrated river basin management, leadership ethics, and adherence to procedural standards that will ensure improved service delivery in rural communities.

Reiterating the critical role of RBDAs in achieving food security, potable water access, and job creation, the permanent secretary urged the board members and executives to set clear priorities, uphold transparency, and demonstrate financial prudence.

Responding, the Managing Directors of the RBDAs pledged unwavering commitment to the successful implementation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of food security, rural development, and economic empowerment.

Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues, the Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority and Chairman of the MDs’ Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Malam, expressed gratitude to the president for appointing them as custodians of the nation’s grassroots development strategy.

“We are deeply honoured to be trusted with this national responsibility. We assure Mr. President that we will collaborate and work in unison to fulfill the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Malam stated.

Emphasising the strategic role of RBDAs in national development, Malam noted that the authorities were deliberately created to drive rural infrastructure, poverty alleviation, and agricultural development.

“Our organisations are grassroots-focused, with a clear direction toward enhancing food production, improving rural economies, and reducing poverty. We remain committed to achieving these goals,” he said.

According to him, the RBDAs will fine-tune their strategies and intensify efforts to deliver on their mandates across all regions.

“With all 12 RBDAs fully functional, the President can rest assured that 2027 is confidently guaranteed,” Malam declared.