Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engineer Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has called for stronger collaboration between states and Federal government to improve irrigation farming,water supply and sanitation in the country.
Professor Utsev made the call today when he visited Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki at Government House, Benin .
According to him, such collaboration will enhance smooth working relationship between the two tiers of government which will improve the livelihood of citizens and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to collectively achieve the desired goal.
He informed the Governor that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a charge to the twelve River Basin Development Authorities under his Ministry to put five thousand hecters of lands for irrigation farming in order to produce more foods to feed the nation and it was against this backdrop that he flagged-off the 2023-2024 dry season farming in the state for all the twelve River Basins in the country to commence dry season cultivation.
The Minister Joseph Terlumun appealed to the Governor to provide more agricultural lands in his state to his Ministry for irrigation farming to meet the target set by Mr President and issue approval of title deeds for the lands that the Ministry acquired from the communities in the state .
Responding, Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki who promised the collaboration between his State and the Federal Government in order to ensure a sustainable water system in the state, advised the Federal Government to explore more economic potentials of water .
Governor Obaseki who described the appointment of Professor Utsev to oversee the Water Resources and Sanitation Ministry as putting round peg in a round hole, expressed hope that the Minister will bring new perspectives and energy to accomplish the desired goals for the River Basins in the country.
Governor Obaseki later presented a Alaghodaro Summit Sourvenair to the Minister.