By Bashir Abashiya
The Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture has received officials from the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project on a technical site assessment visit to evaluate the level of readiness of the NATU Irrigation Scheme in Bakura Local Government Area.
The delegation, led by the Head of Irrigation Technical Unit, Engineer Hauwa M. Sadiq, was received by the SPIN Zamfara State Project Coordinator alongside officials of the Ministry of Agriculture before proceeding on an inspection tour of the NATU facility.
During the visit, the team assessed the ongoing desilting of Natu lake and rehabilitation work at the Sardauna Farm irrigation site, which is being undertaken by the Zamfara State Government as part of its commitment to the successful implementation of the SPIN Project.
Established during the era of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, the NATU Irrigation Scheme has for decades remained a major source of economic livelihood for the people of Bakura and surrounding communities through irrigation farming and fishing activities. Stakeholders believe that the ongoing rehabilitation of the facility will not only restore its lost glory but also significantly boost agricultural productivity and contribute to the economic growth of Zamfara State.
The delegation commended the state government for the progress recorded so far and advised the contractor handling the project to intensify efforts in order to ensure timely completion of the work.
The officials also interacted with members of the benefiting communities, who expressed appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ya’u Haruna Gamji, for restoring hope to the people and reviving the legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello through the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme.
After the inspection tour, the delegation held further discussions with the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ya’u Haruna Gamji, on the progress of the project and other key areas aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the SPIN intervention in Zamfara State.
The SPIN Project is a World Bank-supported intervention programme currently being implemented in 12 states across the country to strengthen irrigation and power infrastructure for sustainable agricultural development.
