The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has been consistent in driving various processes of transformation aimed at repositioning the Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Last weekend specifically it was the commendable initiative to improve irrigation farming all over the country, as the NASENI’s ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project’ kicked off in Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State.
NASENI under the leadership of Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu has launched the pilot of ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project’ a programme that demonstrated the Agency’s innovation and comprehensive vision for all-year-round agriculture toward improved productivity and food security, not just in Bauchi state but all over Nigeria.
The NASENI boss said the goal of ‘Irrigate Nigeria’ under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration essentially includes the transformation of the entire Nigeria’s agriculture sector through provision of sustainable irrigation systems. “For us at NASENI, this is an ample opportunity to put our technology and innovation into work, as it is also in line with the Agency’s operating principle of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization,” the NASENI boss reiterated.
The programme is jointly being implemented by NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) and also has the participation of private sector at the core of its operations in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fully empower and enable Nigeria’s private sector to develop the agricultural sector.
This pilot phase kicked off on a 10-hectare land in Gamawa Local Government of Bauchi State under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) built on a large scale farming basis for the purpose of sustainability and more production. Halilu explained that “this Federal Government initiative rests on four components for its sustainability which include: first the deployment of centralized NASENI irrigation systems to support farming clusters in the participating communities.
“The second component is the provision of input-enhanced seeds and fertilizers including technical support to the participating farmers to complement the provision of irrigation equipment; third is the specialized nature of the commercial model, aimed at ensuring commercial viability and long-term sustainability, and lastly, Irrigate Nigeria Project will be run on commercial basis, but with every care taken to ensure that this does not burden the participating farmers unnecessarily,” Halilu said.
The NASENI boss said further that “the repayments by farmers for the support being provided will be in the form of convenient portions of their harvests, like rice paddy. These repayments will be pooled into a strategic food reserve that will help to stabilize commodity prices and also made available for institutional sale for export, and finally it has the objective of ensuring that Nigeria’s farmers are able to farm throughout the year regardless of the availability of rains while increasing the quantity and quality of harvests”
It was indeed a massive boost for the people and government of Bauchi State, whose governor, the enthusiastic Bala Mohammed, exhibited passion stressing that the kick-off of the nationwide project marked Federal Government’s commitment to bolster up the state’s microeconomic variables, even as he expressed immense gratitude to the Federal Government for choosing Bauchi as the first state to benefit from Irrigate Nigeria initiative.
Speaking further, Governor Mohammed said that the Irrigate Nigeria project is a testament of collective shared vision to transforming Nigeria’s infrastructural sector as a powerful engine of economic growth and food security even as the initiative directly addresses the country’s ongoing food scarcity challenges by equipping farmers with modern irrigation techniques and dry season farming equipment.
According to him, “what the Federal Government is doing today in Gamawa is the fulfillment of the essence of governance, that is to create an enabling environment, and it is a plus for President Tinubu or the Federal government. This project is more than just about farming; it is about food security, economic empowerment, and national stability.
“It aligns perfectly with Bauchi State Government’s broader goals of expanding irrigation farming, reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture, and promoting sustainable agricultural infrastructure. The Irrigate Nigeria Project, if implemented as designed, will have a multiplier effect across the agricultural value chain, both vertically and horizontally.
“It will drive knowledge transfer, introduce advanced technologies, and distribute wealth equitably ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of our society benefit from this transformation. This is the kind of structured agricultural intervention which Nigeria needs, one that prioritizes inclusivity, accountability, and long-term economic impact”, the Governor said.
The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), Dr. Mohammed Dahiru said the Irrigate Nigeria Project was designed essentially on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in order to sustain the initiative beyond its take-off, and to make it run on business principles and yet not leaving the farm households nationwide behind in the overall aim of developing the whole agriculture ecosystem of the country.
The weekend’s take-off of the Irrigate Nigeria Project in Gamawa, Bauchi State is the first phase of the Launch. The exercise will be replicated in other parts of the country by NASENI under the auspices of the RHIDF.
This project is also geared to increase the quantity and quality of harvest, farmers and farming communities with increased incomes, which will greatly benefit Nigerian communities through relief prices with resultant availability of food with the country improving its export volumes and earning the much-needed foreign exchange that would support microeconomics stability.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman, Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF), Dr. Zach Adedeji, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector. He said, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria launched the Renewed Hope Agenda for the people, and that is why we are here today to ensure food security for our people.”
This NASENI-driven initiative has become necessary following the not-too impressive outcomes of previous irrigation initiatives in Nigeria due to over-reliance on government funding, which often led to inefficiencies. The Irrigate Nigeria Project adopts a different approach by integrating public sector resources with private sector expertise, investment, and technological advancements.
The project has advanced irrigation technologies such as solar water pumps provided by NASENI—and other automated irrigation systems to enhance efficiency and reduce water wastage. It has prioritized farmer empowerment by equipping smallholder farmers with training in advanced irrigation techniques, agribusiness development, and market intelligence.
The project will make provision for adequate access to water and promote sustainable farming practices and stronger market linkages, ultimately making Nigeria agriculture globally competitive.
With one million hectares of irrigated farmland, this project is estimated to create over five million jobs within five years as well as curbing poverty, integrating farmers into the formal economy to ensure financial sustainability, and attracting agricultural investment and tackle rural- urban migration.
The Irrigate Nigeria project funded by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, and powered by NASENI, will unlock Nigeria’s vast irrigation potential-70 per cent of which lies in the North-by developing 1,000,000 hectares of irrigated land.
The success of the Irrigate Nigeria Project lies on the collective dedication, innovation, and commitment to implementation. Every stakeholder-government agencies, private sector partners, development organizations, and, most importantly, the hardworking farmers has a role to play in ensuring this project delivers real, lasting impact as NASENI takes the lead for bringing this project into fruition.
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