By Abbas Nazil
Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority to expand irrigation facilities, address flooding challenges, and boost agricultural productivity across the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Authority’s management team, led by Managing Director, Rabi’u Suleiman Bichi, the governor said the Hadejia Valley holds 24,000 hectares of land, of which 6,000 hectares are already in use, with 18,000 more targeted for cultivation.
He revealed that discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have secured agreement for the development of an additional 6,000 hectares through international resources, with a request already submitted to the minister of water resources.
Namadi also announced plans to revive 10 abandoned dams, bringing 4,500 hectares into production.
Two of the dams will be reactivated in collaboration with the SPIN project, three with ACReSAL, and the remaining five by the state government.
The governor emphasized the need to extend irrigation to upland communities that currently farm only once a year.
He highlighted the success of the industrial borehole scheme in Lalashi, where more than 120 households now farm year-round and no longer migrate in search of work.
Based on this success, similar projects are being replicated in Gajagarma in Birniwa, Dutse, and four local governments in Gumel Emirate.
On seasonal flooding, Namadi described the problem as serious, noting that the state has built 120 kilometres of embankments and cleared 70 kilometres of Typha grass to mitigate the impact.
HJRBDA Managing Director Bichi commended the state government for its support in combating Typha grass and improving waterway functionality, which he said has reduced flooding and enhanced water management.
He disclosed that the Authority has plans to expand irrigation in Jigawa by 6,500 hectares and is working on projects approved by the president, including the Greater Dutse Water Supply Scheme and repairs to the Hadejia Barrage.
According to Bichi, the current 5,440 hectares under cultivation yield about 220,000 metric tonnes of crops such as wheat, rice, maize, tomatoes, and vegetables, valued at over ₦154.4 billion annually.
He added that other initiatives include greenhouse farming and drip irrigation at Gumel town.
The 2025 budget includes over ₦28 billion for HJRBDA projects in Jigawa, alongside ₦59 billion allocated for the Greater Dutse Water Supply, covering small earth dams, erosion control works, and new irrigation schemes.
