Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has committed to supporting the Federal Government’s initiative to revitalize the Sabke Dam irrigation project, highlighting its potential to revolutionize agriculture in the region.
This comes as part of national efforts to tackle food insecurity and create job opportunities, particularly for the youth.
Governor Radda made the declaration during an inspection of the Sabke Dam project in Maiadua, which was led by Dr. Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, the Director-General of the Federal Government’s Budget Office.
The dam, with a storage capacity of 30.6 million cubic meters and a dispensing rate of 495 cubic meters per hour, was originally handed over to the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority in 2018.
Radda emphasized that the Sabke Dam’s resuscitation is not a step towards improving agricultural productivity as well as a strategy for engaging the vast land and water resources of Northern Nigeria.
The governor underscored that this initiative would help stabilize food supply and reduce youth unemployment by creating jobs across the agricultural value chain, from farming to processing.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and supporting infrastructure development through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
According to Radda, the project’s potential extends beyond agriculture, as it could help address the security challenges facing Northern Nigeria by providing economic opportunities to young people, thereby reducing their vulnerability to criminal activities.
