Arewa group hails Kano ecological projects, backs Tinubu’s re-election

The Arewa Revival Project (ARP) has backed the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing ongoing ecological and irrigation projects in Kano State as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to agricultural development in the North.

The group particularly commended the rehabilitation and expansion of the Kano River Irrigation Scheme, including interventions at the Tiga Dam, Challawa Gorge Dam and Kafin Chiri Dam.

The Project Coordinator of ARP, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim on Thursday in a statement, said the projects would boost agricultural production, improve rural livelihoods and strengthen food security in Kano State and other parts of Northern Nigeria.

Ibrahim said the projects were being implemented through the Ecological Project Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to him, the intervention at the Tiga Dam was designed to open new irrigation sectors in Yakasai, Gwamma and Gurjiya, covering about 875 hectares.

He said the development of irrigation canals and other infrastructure under the project would increase access to water for farmers and create opportunities for year-round agricultural production.

Tiga Dam, which was completed in 1974, has a reservoir capacity of about 1.97 billion cubic metres and an irrigation potential of approximately 230,000 hectares. It also supports 10 megawatts of hydropower generation.

The group also said the intervention at the Challawa Gorge Dam would provide irrigation facilities for about 240 hectares of farmland.

It said the work included the construction and rehabilitation of main canals, distribution channels, field canals, access roads and other hydraulic structures.

At Kafin Chiri Dam, the group said the intervention would open additional irrigation sectors covering about 164.91 hectares across the Kunpada, Matanfa and Maida sectors.

The ARP said the projects, when completed, would help improve agricultural output, create jobs and strengthen the ability of rural communities to cope with climate-related challenges.

“We consider these projects important investments in ecological infrastructure that can help address the challenges of agricultural production, water management and rural livelihoods,” the statement said.

The group said Kano’s strategic position in Nigeria’s agricultural economy made investment in irrigation infrastructure particularly important.

He also said that improved irrigation facilities could encourage private investment in agribusiness, strengthen food supply chains and increase the productive capacity of farmers in the state.

The group, however, urged the government to ensure the timely completion and proper maintenance of the projects, while calling for transparency in their implementation.

It also urged relevant government agencies, local stakeholders and farming communities to take ownership of the projects to ensure that they achieved their intended objectives.

“By improving access to irrigation, we expect these interventions to support year-round farming, increase agricultural output, create employment opportunities and strengthen the resilience of our communities against climate-related challenges,” it said.

The group said its decision to support Tinubu’s re-election was also based on what it described as the administration’s broader development agenda.

It argued that continuity in government would provide an opportunity to consolidate ongoing projects and sustain investments in infrastructure, food security and economic development.

“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 group said.

It added that ecological development should not be limited to the construction of physical infrastructure but should also include environmental conservation, community participation and improved livelihoods.

The group said the Kano River Irrigation Special Ecological Project could serve as a model for linking environmental remediation with agricultural development and poverty reduction.

“As people of Arewa, we must act today to protect our ecological ecosystems and secure a sustainable future for generations to come,” it said.

The ARP called for a holistic approach to ecological development that would balance biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and the socio-economic needs of communities across Kano State and the wider northern region.