By Khalid Idris Doya
A political dispute between Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, took another turn when the minister stayed away from representing the President, Bola Tinubu who was invited to launch the Irrigate Nigeria Project in Udubo village, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State last Saturday.
It was gathered that Tuggar decided to boycott the event and held his parallel programme in another location within Gamawa, while the main gathering was waiting for him, as the representative of the President.
Tuggar had on national television accused Bala Mohammed of land grabbing and selling to private investors while leaving peasant farmers in a helpless situation.
Irrigate Nigeria Project is a key programme under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF), designed to enhance food security across Nigeria.
It was announced that the representative of the President –Tuggar was on his way to join the event, after about 20 minutes of waiting, the event proceeded with the attendance of Governor Bala Mohammed, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI); Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund represented by his deputy; Dr. Dahiru Muhammed, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer.
Meanwhile, Tuggar was said to have been holding a separate gathering in another part of the village with some APC members.
During his speech at the parallel event, Minister Tuggar accused the Bauchi State government of allocating farmland belonging to smallholder farmers to private companies as loans.
He explained that Udubo was chosen as the launch site for the programme due to its fertile land and rich history in farming and livestock.
"There is a program 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) is 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 program that they're carrying out. We've come with a message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
"As you all know, land in Nigeria, the certificates of occupancy are controlled by state governments, and the governors who signed up in the certificates of occupancy. Mr. President strongly supports the use of land, in such a manner that it does not adversely affect smallholder farmers."
According to Tuggar, President Tinubu is committed to protecting the rights of smallholder farmers, recognising that many of them practice subsistence farming.
"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 program would support both crop farming and livestock rearing without displacing them.
At his event, the minister distributed bags of rice, motorcycles, modern cooking stoves, and other solar-powered products to local residents.
Despite the political differences, the official launch of the Irrigate Nigeria Project continued as planned.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, held at a 30,000 hectares at Tiamin Rice Farm, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu expressed delight that the project has come to fruition.
Mr. Khalil Halilu said that the objective of the project is to be facilitated all year round by farmers regardless of the availability of rain.
Halilu explained that the project is also geared to increase the quantity and qualify of harvest, farmers and farming communities with increased incomes.
According to him, Nigerian communities will greatly benefit through relief prices with resultant availability of food with the country improving its export volumes and earn the much-needed foreign exchange that would support microeconomics stability.
Halilu positioned, "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 Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state has in a keynote address, said that the Irrigate Nigeria project is a testament of collective shared vision to transforming Nigeria's infrastructural sector with a powerful engine of economic growth and food security.
Bala Mohammed 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 National Agency for Science Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for spearheading the initiative.
Despite the political tensions, Governor Bala 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 Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, reaffirmed the government's commitment to revitalising the agricultural sector.
Represented by 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 Irrigation Nigeria 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 lead to inefficiencies.
However, 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 programs that depended solely on federal government funding and were hindered by inefficiencies,” he emphasised.
According to Dr. Mohammed, the project ensures long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency through risk-sharing mechanisms. It also 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.
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