By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Arewa Revival Project has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, praising the Federal Government’s ecological intervention in the Kano River Irrigation Scheme as a major boost to food security, agricultural productivity and rural development in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the group commended the Tinubu administration for ongoing rehabilitation and expansion projects at Tiga Dam, Challawa Gorge Dam and Kafin Chiri Dam in Kano State.
The group described the intervention, being implemented through the Ecological Project Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to food security, climate resilience, rural development and sustainable economic growth.
According to the statement, the projects represent strategic investments in Kano State’s agricultural potential, with significant implications for farmers, rural households, agribusinesses and the wider Nigerian economy.
The group noted that Tiga Dam, completed in 1974, has a reservoir capacity of approximately 1.97 billion cubic metres and an irrigation potential of about 230,000 hectares, while also supporting 10 megawatts of hydropower generation.
It said the ongoing intervention at the dam was designed to open new irrigation sectors in Yakasai, Gwamma and Gurjiya, covering approximately 875 hectares, through the construction of irrigation canals and associated infrastructure.
On the Challawa Gorge Dam project, the ARP said the intervention focuses on developing 240 hectares of irrigable land through the construction and rehabilitation of main canals, distribution channels, field canals, access roads and other hydraulic structures.
Similarly, the group disclosed that the intervention at Kafin Chiri Dam was expected to open additional irrigation sectors covering approximately 164.91 hectares across the Kunpada, Matanfa and Maida sectors.
It said the projects, collectively, could improve water management, promote year-round farming, increase agricultural output, create employment opportunities and strengthen the capacity of rural communities to withstand climate-related challenges.
The statement added that improving irrigation infrastructure in Kano State would help unlock farmers’ productive capacity, attract private investment in agribusiness and strengthen food supply chains.
The group said the projects aligned with the broader objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in food security, economic diversification, poverty reduction and inclusive development.
However, the ARP stressed that the long-term success of the interventions would depend on timely completion, effective maintenance, transparent implementation and the active participation of beneficiary communities.
It therefore urged relevant government agencies, local stakeholders and farming communities to support the projects and ensure that the infrastructure delivers its intended benefits.
“In recognition of these interventions and the administration’s broader development agenda, we declare our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid,” the statement said.
The group expressed the belief that continuity in leadership would provide an opportunity to consolidate ongoing projects, expand development initiatives and sustain efforts towards national economic transformation.
It also called for a holistic approach to ecological remediation, insisting that infrastructure development must be balanced with biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and the socio-economic well-being of affected communities.
According to the ARP, the Kano River Irrigation Special Ecological Project offers an opportunity to demonstrate how ecological restoration can translate into improved livelihoods, resilient communities and lasting economic benefits for Kano State and the wider Arewa region.
The statement was signed by Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, Project Coordinator of the Arewa Revival Project.
