Dawn commission lauds FG’s decision to build seven dams in S’West

The Director General of, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Seye Oyeleye, on Friday applauded the Federal Government’s decision to construct seven new dams across the six Southwest states.

The commission said the move would mark a significant milestone in regional agricultural development and food security enhancement across the region. In a statement he personally signed and made available to the media, Oyeleye said the infrastructure initiative aligns with its advocacy for the past 18 months, through expert dialogues, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement for comprehensive irrigation development in Southwest Nigeria.

The commission said that this necessity had been identified as crucial for year-round food production and agricultural sustainability across Yoruba land.The statement added: “Notably, during the Southwest Commissioners for Agriculture’s meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan in June 2024, the provision of new dams and resuscitation of existing ones emerged as the topmost priority in the communiqué. This regional stance was further reinforced when all 36 state commissioners convened in Abuja weeks later.

“This landmark decision by the Federal Government validates our long-standing position that irrigation infrastructure is fundamental to achieving food security in Southwest Nigeria.”

The commission also posited that the new dams would serve as a catalyst for transforming subsistence farming into sustainable agribusiness, just as it added that the irrigation project would also bring multiple transformative benefits to Southwest Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly providing smallholder farmers with the resources and support needed to transition from subsistence farming to more profitable, market-oriented agriculture.

The commission also said the project is expected to have a stabilising effect on food prices, “making essential agricultural products more accessible to vulnerable populations.”

It added: “The initiative will also create substantial employment opportunities in rural communities, contributing to economic growth and social development across the region.

“By investing in irrigation infrastructure, we can empower rural farming households to increase their productivity and income. This will directly reduce poverty, stabilise food prices and create sustainable farm and non-farm employment.

“DAWN Commission will continue to work with the Southwest states to ensure the dams are appropriately sited, based on our extensive technical work, and to expedite the commencement of construction.”

The commission commended the state governors in the region over the ongoing efforts to boost food production, stressing that “this Federal Government’s intervention serves as a testament to their dedication and hard work.”

Oyeleye also debunked the impression that the Southwest has been relying on the northern part of the country for food production. According to him, “it is a wrong notion to conclude that Southwest cannot provide food for itself without necessarily depending on the north; this is not so.”