Authority leases 7,500 hectares of land for rice production


Prof. Mohammed Ali, Managing Director of Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority Minna, announced the leasing of 7,500 hectares of land to Pearl Universal Impex Limited for rice farming in Burgu Local Government Area of Niger .

Ali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Thursday that the measure was part of the authority’s commitment to encourage and support massive production of rice .

He said that the authority was currently studying application from several individuals, companies and farmers’ associations for the lease of irrigation lands available in Niger, Kaduna and FCT.

” We have sufficient irrigation lands in our catchment areas ready for use in our resolve to encourage all-year farming method. ”

He explained that already the authority had set in motion working modalities for utilisation of water resources in a sustainable manner to enhance economic, social and rural development within the catchment areas .

” We are doing everything humanly possible to pursue the objectives of harnessing and conserving available land water resources to improve the well-being of Nigerians.

” We will continue to provide platform for farmers to utilise our water for production of assorted food crops, ” he said.

He explained that the authority was currently spending about N230 million on the construction of additional offices at its headquarters in Minna .

He said that the exercise was geared towards providing conducive working atmosphere for the staff.

” We have committed over N12 million on the construction of two motorised bore holes for our staff quarters and N10 million for general rehabilitation of some residential houses for our workforce.”


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