The World Bank and the Federal Government have jointly provided over N108.9 billion for an eight-year programme to revamp irrigation schemes in five states of the country, according to its Coordinator, Mr Peter Yakubu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu disclosure this in Sokoto on Wednesday when a combined team of officials of the project tagged: ‘Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMMING),’ visited the Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRBDA), Alhaji Muktar Anka.

NAN also reports that the team comprised of officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Yakubu stated that over N 100 billion was provided by the World Bank, while the Federal Government provided a counterpart funding of over N8.9 billion for the project, which covers the period 2014-2022.

He enumerated the benefiting irrigation projects to include those of Goronyo, Bakolori, Dadin-Kowa, Kura and Hadejia, in Sokoto, Zamfara, Gombe, Kano and Jigawa states, respectively.

“A total of over 23,000 hectares would be rehabilitated under the programme in the five states and the projects would be revamped to bring them in tune with global standards.

“The Federal Government, World Bank and the FAO are partnering in this all-important programme to accord irrigation farming the priority it deserves.”

The Team Leader of the programme from World Bank, Mr David Cassanova, explained that the mission to the state was part of their nationwide assessment of the achievements recorded so far in the five benefiting states.

Cassanova said that the visit was part of the team's six-monthly assessment of the programme, with a view to enhancing its efficiency and pungent impact.

The Managing Director of the SRBDA, Alhaji Muktar Anka, commended the Federal Government and the partners for their efforts aimed at bolstering food security and sufficiency in Nigeria.

“The programme aims at giving priority attention to dry season farming and not to solely rely on rain-fed farming to feed a country of over 170 million people.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Tambuwal.