Minister of Water Resources Inaugurates new Governing Boards for River Basin Development Authorities

By Abdullahi Lukman

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, officially inaugurated the newly appointed Governing Boards and Executive Management Teams of Nigeria’s 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) on May 2, 2025, in Abuja.

The move aligns with the government’s efforts to advance national food security and optimize water resources, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the inauguration ceremony, Utsev congratulated the appointees, urging them to prioritize integrity, innovation, and collaboration as they undertake their roles.

He emphasized that the new leadership must set clear strategic directions to drive performance and align with the government’s broader goals.

“The role of the River Basins is crucial to managing our water resources and expanding irrigated farming, which are essential to achieving food security in Nigeria,” Utsev stated. “You must fully understand the ethical rules guiding public office and familiarize yourselves with the River Basin Act and the Water Resources Master Plan.

These tools will help guide your efforts in shaping strategic, transformative actions for the sector.”

The minister also underscored the importance of growing irrigated agriculture across all river basins to support all-season farming and boost national food production.

He encouraged the appointees to seek innovative ways to fund their initiatives, including exploring public-private partnerships for financial sustainability.

In his welcome speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, described an induction retreat for the board members as an essential step toward repositioning the water and sanitation sector for national development.

He stressed the importance of strategic leadership, collaboration, and financial discipline to meet the sector’s goals of improving food security, irrigation, clean water access, and rural development.

Abubakar Malam, Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, spoke on behalf of the new appointees, expressing gratitude for their appointments and reiterating their commitment to supporting the country’s food security and rural development.

He pledged that the river basins would work closely together to fulfill their mandates and contribute to Nigeria’s broader development agenda.

The newly inaugurated governing boards and executive management teams are expected to play a critical role in transforming the River Basin Development Authorities into vital drivers of Nigeria’s agricultural and water resources management efforts.