New management teams of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have pledged to ensure that the needs of local communities are central to their interventions.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, Abubakar Malam, who spoke with journalists during a two-day strategic retreat in Abuja on behalf of the teams, said the retreat deepened participants’ understanding of their core responsibilities and realigned their goals with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially tackling food insecurity.

“We recognise that no single institution can achieve these ambitious goals alone. As boards and management teams, we are committed to building strong partnerships with state governments and key stakeholders to ensure that the voices and needs of communities are factored into every project we implement,” he said.

The retreat, which held on May 2 and 3, brought together key appointees and executives of River Basin Authorities to examine operational frameworks and reposition the institutions in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive on food security.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, had earlier charged the authorities to support national efforts through expanded irrigation, agribusiness promotion, as well as enhanced collaboration with the private sector.

He emphasised that despite challenges ranging from obsolete equipment to climate-related threats like flooding and erosion, the authorities remain resolute in their commitment to modernise their operations and deliver tangible results.