The Federal Government has unveiled plans to expand food production and create employment through a 5,000-hectare irrigation project in Benue State under the World Bank–supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria programme.
The proposed Katsina-Ala irrigation project was disclosed during an inspection tour of water and irrigation facilities in the state by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation. The visit also covered the Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project and the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme as part of a nationwide assessment directed by the President to identify infrastructure gaps requiring urgent intervention.
According to the minister, the Katsina-Ala project is designed to support year-round farming, improve crop yields and provide jobs for young people in the area. He noted that the Federal Government plans to concession the dam component of the project through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to accelerate implementation and ensure efficiency.
When fully developed, the irrigation scheme is expected to create employment for about 2,000 youths while strengthening food security and local agricultural value chains. The minister called on residents and community leaders to support the initiative, stressing that its success would depend on local cooperation and ownership.
He also encouraged state governments to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the SPIN programme, describing it as a key driver of economic growth through increased agricultural productivity and improved water infrastructure. In Benue State, several other dam and irrigation projects are ongoing, including those in Wannune, Amgbo, Atee, Dura and Amla, alongside irrigable farmlands around Makurdi.
The National Project Coordinator of SPIN said the Katsina-Ala irrigation scheme is expected to contribute to higher food output, job creation and increased national income once implementation begins, adding that work would commence after final clearance from the development partner.
Local farmers welcomed the proposed project, describing it as timely support for dry-season farming and rural livelihoods. They appealed for complementary interventions such as fertilisers, tools and other farm inputs to enable smallholders maximise the benefits of irrigation farming.
During the tour, the minister also inspected the Ugbema Semi-Urban Water Project in Buruku Local Government Area, which has reached about 80 per cent completion, with reticulation works still pending. Community leaders said the project would significantly improve access to potable water and resolve long-standing water shortages.
At Ameladu Community in Gboko, the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Scheme was reported to be about 90 per cent completed and is expected to serve four local government areas, including parts of Tarka and Ushongo, when fully operational.
The inspection ended at the Amgbo Dam in Wannune, where plans are underway to expand the dam from 400 metres to 1,000 metres, increasing its storage capacity to 1.2 million cubic metres. The upgraded facility is expected to support domestic water supply, irrigation, job creation, tourism and improved water access for the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, whose management welcomed the intervention.
