FG signs agreement to reposition river basin development authorities

An agreement has been signed by the Federal Government to reposition the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months.

The agreement, which was signed between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic, is to include the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice and programme, which is complementary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, announced the signing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday at the South-South town hall meeting organised by his ministry.

The minister noted that the Federal Government was exploring the agricultural sector for massive job creation through the repositioning of the River Basin Development Authorities in line with the aim of redeeming its promises to Nigerian, particularly in the three broad campaign areas of tackling insecurity, fighting corruption and revamping the ‎economy.

Federal Government has equally commenced the creation of jobs across the country in fulfilment of its campaign promises through mobilisation of various road construction worker and projects across the country.

“As contractors are mobilized back to the various road construction projects across the country, construction and ancillary workers are returning to work in droves,” he said

Some of the road construction works that have resumed according to the Minister include Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Bode Sadu-Jebba road, Abuja-Lokoja road, Kano-Maiduguri road and the Loko and Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue.

He said work would soon start on the 2nd Niger Bridge which is in this year’s budget, adding that, as more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work.

The minister used the occasion to thank the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, for his hospitality and generosity even though he belongs to a different political platform.

He equally thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and abiding faith in the Buhari administration, and assured that despite the economic challenges due to the crash in oil price, there was indeed light at the end of the tunnel.