FG Plans Connecting Middle Ogun Irrigation Project to National Grid

By Oluwakayode Banjo

One major challenge confronting the country is food insecurity as a result of several factors, one of which is insufficient agricultural production.

However, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has taken steps to boost food production across the country through irrigated agriculture.

To this end, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Joseph Utsev embarked on an assessment tour of the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project site, Iseyin, Oyo State.

The contract of the construction of the middle Ogun Irrigation Project in Iseyin, Oyo State was awarded in 1990 to cover an initial 12,000 hectares of irrigable land with its water source from Ikere(DDD) Gorge Dam.

However, the Project construction stalled in 2015 due to paucity of funds.

The project was said to be initially conceived to utilize diesel pumps, but with the current economic realities, was no longer economical as a result of the high cost of diesel.

Bothered by this challenge and with the renewed commitment of the present administration to completing the project, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has commenced plans to connect the project to the national grid, as well as, the solarisation of the project.

According to the Minister, Mr Joseph Utsev, the move was aimed at solving the energy problem to enable the project achieve its full benefits.

Mr Utsev explained that the project, when completed, would birth an environmental friendly and sustainable irrigation system, for increased agricultural production, employment generation and food security, through irrigated agriculture.

The Minister, who expressed satisfaction with the current work done so far, said the project should be completed in three years time.

In separate interviews, two farmers at the irrigation project site, Alhaji Ademola Dauda and Mr Isaac Awotunde commended the Minister for deeming it fit to visit the ongoing project, expressing expressed optimism that the visit would result in speedy completion of the project.

Radio Nigeria gathered from the Minister tours that the connection of the project to the national grid is about 95% completed, while the solarisation is 85% completed.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group