A political dispute between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has deepened as the minister shunned the launch of the Irrigate Nigeria Project in Udubo village, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Saturday.
Gov. Mohammed of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Minister Tuggar of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have recently exchanged heated political rhetorics over some policies of President Tinubu.
While the governor accused Tinubu of making life difficult to Nigerians, the minister reacted that Mohammed has failed to improve the lives of Bauchi people despite increased FAAC allocation.
WikkiTimes reports that irrigate Nigeria Project is a key programme under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) designed to enhance food security across Nigeria.
The project was initially set to be inaugurated by President Tinubu, with reports indicating that Minister Tuggar would represent him. However, despite expectations, the minister was absent, leaving Governor Mohammed and his team waiting.
Meanwhile, the event proceeded after the arrival of Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI); Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the RHIDF represented by his deputy; Dr. Dahiru Muhammed, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer.
WikkiTimes gathered that Minister Tuggar held a separate gathering in another part of the village with some APC members at the same time.
Speaking at the event where he distributed items such as rice, motorcycles, modern cooking stoves, and other solar-powered products to his political allies, Tuggar accused the Bauchi State governor of allocating farmland belonging to smallholder farmers to private companies as loans.
He explained that Udubo was chosen as the programme’s launch site due to its fertile land and rich history of farming and livestock.
“There is a programme for rural farming, rural agriculture, and it’s going hand-in-hand with the empowerment of the National Agency for Science, Engineering, and Infrastructure (NASENI) at the core of it. Of course, the backbone of it is the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF). So, we’re here in conjunction… with the programme that they’re carrying out. We’ve come with a message from President Bola Tinubu.
“As you all know, for land in Nigeria, the certificates of occupancy (C of O) are controlled by state governments, and it’s the governors who sign it. Mr. President strongly supports the use of land, in such a manner that it does not adversely affect smallholder farmers.”
“They grow what they eat. This initiative is designed to work hand-in-hand with farmers, ensuring that any output reaches the market while the government provides necessary inputs to boost agricultural output. The goal is to enhance food security without disenfranchising farmers or taking away their land,” he added.
Tuggar reassured the farmers that their land rights would be protected and that the programme would support both crop farming and livestock rearing without displacing them.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, held at a 30, OOO hectares at Tiamin Rice Farm, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu expressed delight that the project has come to fruition.
Mr. Halilu said that the objective of the project is to be facilitated all year round by farmers regardless of the availability of rain.
He explained that the project is also geared to increase the quantity and quality of harvest, farmers, and farming communities with increased incomes.
According to him, Nigerian communities will greatly benefit from relief prices and the resultant availability of food. The country will improve its export volumes and earn the much-needed foreign exchange that would support microeconomic stability.
Halilu added, “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 commercialisation.”
Governor Mohammed, in a keynote address, said that the Irrigate Nigeria project is a testament to a collective shared vision of transforming Nigeria’s infrastructural sector with a powerful engine of economic growth and food security.
He highlighted that the initiative directly addresses the country’s ongoing food scarcity challenges by equipping farmers with modern irrigation techniques and dry-season farming equipment.
He commended NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) of President Tinubu for spearheading the initiative.
Governor Mohammed praised the federal government’s agricultural initiatives, acknowledging President Tinubu’s commitment to food security.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the RHIDF, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalising the agricultural sector.
Represented by Mr Adebayo, Dr. Adedeji 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.”
Speaking about the Project, Dr. Dahiru Muhammed, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer, explained that previous irrigation initiatives in Nigeria struggled due to over-reliance on government funding, which often led to inefficiencies.
He, however, noted that the Irrigate Nigeria Project adopts a different approach by integrating public sector resources with private sector expertise, investment, and technological advancements.
“This project stands out by merging public and private sector resources, unlike previous irrigation programmes that depended solely on federal government funding and were hindered by inefficiencies,” he emphasised.
According to Dr. Muhammed, the project ensures long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency through risk-sharing mechanisms.
He added that incorporates advanced irrigation technologies such as solar water pumps provided by NASENI and other automated irrigation systems to enhance efficiency and reduce water wastage.
“In addition, the Irrigate Nigeria Project prioritizes farmer empowerment by equipping smallholder farmers with training in advanced irrigation techniques, agribusiness development, and market intelligence,” he noted.
