President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Governing Boards and Executive Management Teams of Nigeria’s twelve River Basin Development Authorities, as part of efforts to combat food insecurity and drive rural development.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev, presided over the inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja.

Utsev described the appointments as a significant step in advancing the government’s strategy to promote irrigated agriculture and improve water resource management.

He noted that the move aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at ensuring food sustainability and inclusive development across the country.

The minister challenged the appointees to immediately begin implementing key initiatives such as the Songhai Integrated Farming Model, youth empowerment programmes, and large-scale irrigation expansion to drive all-season farming and rural economic transformation.

He urged the Boards and Executive Management to foster synergy, embrace innovation, and uphold integrity in public service, warning that performance will be closely monitored and underperforming agencies held accountable.

He said the Ministry is putting in place performance metrics and reward systems to ensure results. We expect nothing less than a total overhaul in how the RBDAs contribute to national development.”

On behalf of the new appointees, Chairman of the Lower Benue RBDA, Dr. Amos Yadukso, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the minister, pledging full commitment to delivering tangible results in the shortest possible time.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, also hailed the development, describing the retreat as a strategic milestone aimed at realigning the RBDAs with the government’s reform agenda.

The retreat continues with technical sessions on governance, funding, and implementation strategies, as the Tinubu administration intensifies efforts to harness Nigeria’s water resources for sustainable development.