The Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, says the federal government is committed to harnessing the potentials of water resources to boost food production, eliminate hunger and create wealth.
The minister, who was in Gombe on a working visit, spoke during a courtesy call on Gov. Inuwa Yahaya.
He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu was determined to leverage the abundant resources, including water, to meet his eight-point agenda.
According to him, food security is the number one priority of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and river basins have a lot of derivable benefits.
“Currently, Upper Benue is one of the grade A basins; if it is adequately utilized by the government to cultivate enough food, create wealth, and generate employment,
“It also will reduce hunger and provide adequate security because hunger is the number one element that pushes people into insecurity.”
Goronyo urged the governor to work towards benefiting from the commercialization of the Upper River Basins.
“Gombe should key into it because there is a lot to gain.
“Some of the portions of the river basins are lying without any activity, but if the state government or private individuals can come in through partnership, the land can be developed.
“Employment can be created; women can have what to do; all these are within the eight-point agenda of the president,’’ he said.
In his response, Yahaya commended the foresight of the minister and promised that his administration would tap into the benefits of the Tinubu-led government.
He said his administration would do everything possible to further improve the living conditions of their people.
“The food security agenda is something we will align with,” he said.
